First profits since epidemic
Livestock market bosses in Oswestry are celebrating making a profit - for the first time since the foot and mouth disease epidemic six years ago. Livestock market bosses in Oswestry are celebrating making a profit - for the first time since the foot and mouth disease epidemic six years ago. Oswestry mayor Bill Keable welcomed news that the Smithfield, which operates every Wednesday, was now back in profit. It comes as those behind the market look to consolidate the operation, with plans to create a new market on half the land and turn the rest into a development that could bring more jobs to Oswestry. Read the full story in the Shropshire Star
Oswestry mayor Bill Keable welcomed news that the Smithfield, which operates every Wednesday, was now back in profit.
It comes as those behind the market look to consolidate the operation, with plans to create a new market on half the land and turn the rest into a development that could bring more jobs to Oswestry.
The livestock market was closed in 2001 when the foot and mouth epidemic hit Britain. There were fears then it may never reopen, as farmers had to sell their animals directly to abattoirs.
But the Smithfield opened again in 2002 and, although it was at first running at a loss, it has steadily built up its customer base and is now putting more animals thr-ough its auction rings than it did before the outbreak.
It is run by Oswestry Town Council and Oswestry Cattle Auctions, a consortium of local auctioneers.
Mr Keable told a town council meeting yesterday: "It is very encouraging that, for the first time in many years, the livestock market has made a profit for the council of about £20,000.
"This is good news, not only for the council, but for the local community which is so dependant on the agricultural industry."
The livestock market moved out of Oswestry town centre onto a large site off Shrewsbury Road in the 1960s.
The plans for the future of the site include keeping 16 of the 35 acres for a modern livestock market with the rest of the land given over for employment and regeneration. The development is designed to create a new gateway to Oswestry and maintain the town's historic links with agriculture.
