Derby City Council Cabinet have announced the closure of Derby Livestock Market earlier this week, with what has been described by farmers as a 'bitter blow' to those who use it.
The decision by Derby City Council Cabinet on Monday evening to press ahead with closing Derby Livestock Market and leave the wholesale market’s future unclear is a bitter blow to the livestock, dairy farmers and growers who use the markets.
NFU Derbyshire’s county adviser, Andrew Critchlow said: "Many farmers will have come to the market for years and the same for the wholesale market site – it has provided a local outlet for farmers and growers for many decades.
"Markets provide a transparent selling and buying forum for producers and are a vital link in the food production chain, both for the livestock and fresh produce markets on the site.
"However, they aren’t just about selling and buying animals or produce, they’re a social centre and sometimes the only place farmers actually see their friends and neighbours from one week to the next
"I know our members will be deeply saddened to see the markets closed at a time when the addition costs of attending markets further afield will further erode the meagre margins they might have made on their animals or produce."
'Indecisive and unhelpful'
NFU’s county chairman, Angela Sargent, a beef and sheep farmer at Etwall said: "Derby City Council has been indecisive and unhelpful in making the decision to close the markets.
"The auctioneers who run the market have been left in the dark about the procedures and processes of the council’s decisions and this has led to much uncertainty in the farming community.
"The decision is a hammer blow to the industry and means that the number of markets available to our farmers and growers is now reduced by one more and will anger many producers who will now have to travel further to buy and sell their animals and produce."
Andrew Critchlow added: "From the moment the Council made its announcement, without warning last July, that they intended to close the markets the process has been deplorable.
"The Council resolved to work with tenants to endeavour to minimise disruption to businesses; but to take a decision with less than two weeks until the lease expires on the livestock market beggars belief.
"There has been no attempt to find a solution and the so-called consultation process has been a sham.
"Surely, it is not too late to work with the market operators to see if a viable future can be found even if it was on an annual licence."
