County Times Friday, November 6, 2009 3 Got a story – Call 01938 557324 MONTGOMERYSHIRE NEWS Massive boost for agriculture in Montgomeryshire

T H E n e w W e l s h p o o l L i v e s t o c k m a r k e t w h i c h o p e n s t o d a y , F r i d a y . WINTER FESTIVAL SATURDAY 5th DECEMBER 2009 Craft Fair, Food Fayre, Charities Fair, Traditional Street Market, Indoor Market. In and around the Town Centre from 9.00 am Plus other attractions ADMISSION FREE Enquiries 01938 553142

www.welshpoolwinterfestival.co.uk or www.whatsonwelshpool.co.uk New era as new market opens By DOMINIC ROBERTSON [email protected]

A NEW era dawns in Welshpool today with the opening of the new multi mil- lion pound livestock market. Welshpool is home to the largest live- stock market in and one of the biggest in Europe,and now it will be mov- ing to state of the art premises at Cross from its former Smithfield home. The market was officially opened by Chris Dodds,the Executive Secretary of the Livestock Auctioneers Association, after the work which was started in November 2008 was completed this week. A HEARTFELT GIFT FOR CHRISTMAS. The new premises will provide a new Want to give a gift that will be truly appreciated by a friend or loved one? Why not 149,000 sq ft livestock market on a 16 purchase a voucher for a tour of The Hall at Abbey-Cwm-Hir? Vouchers cost £13 each, acre site, complying with new bio securi- and can be redeemed at any time within 12 months of purchase by booking a tour. ty and DEFRA legislation. FLASH BACK: Jim Evans, of Morris Marshall and Poole, is auctioneer at the old Smithfield site in the early 1990s. P i c t u r e : P h i l B l a g g The Hall is open daily through the year. At Xmas all 52 rooms are decorated to There will be pens for a 1,044 sheep and different themes each year to complement the stunning architecture and interiors, 200 cattle with additional penning avail- and fascinating collections. From spring to autumn, the 12 acre gardens in their able for annual one-day sale volumes. UK.These new facilities will enable the “I think it is a very well proportioned beautiful setting overlooking “The Long Valley” are also open along with the tour. David Jones,Montgomeryshire NFU market to develop further and in doing so market with more than 1,000 sheep pens To purchase a voucher phone 01597 851727 or email info@.com .The Cymru chairman, said the new premises will provide a busy trading arena for all and 200 cattle pens under cover,which website is www.abbeycwmhir.com with images showing just why a tour is a special gift. will enable the market to stay at the fore- classes of stock.” are very well designed.It is a massive front of the agricultural industry in FUW President Gareth Vaughan said boost for the industry.” Britain. the new market is a massive boost for The closure of the Smithfield will also He said: “Welshpool market has enjoyed agricultural industry. trigger the start of a major retail develop- an enviable position as one of the leading He said: “I think it is a very good day,a ment including a Tesco store, petrol sta- centres in the country,and for many positive move forward after 10 or 15 very tion and canal side restaurant. The last years being one of the largest centres for difficult years for the industry.We had market will be held at the old Smithfield sales of prime lamb and breeding sheep two outbreaks of foot and mouth, BSE on Monday. in Europe. and bluetongue. The scheme also includes a traffic man- “This substantial investment by the “I think the new market is a very posi- agement system involving a one-way auctioneers has demonstrated their confi- tive move forward and I am delighted gyratory scheme around Welshpool town dence in the agricultural industry in that our local auctioneers have had the centre and will provide more than Montgomeryshire – which itself produces vision and the courage to make this very £300,000 for conservation work and com- some of the finest quality stock in the big investment. munity improvements. Number of road deaths falling THE number of deaths on more fatal and serious acci- emergency services,Road of motoring fatalities in the Powys roads has fallen dra- dents in the county in 2008 Safety Wales and the recently county. matically in the past three than anywhere else in Wales formed Wales Road Casualty “There is still a lot of work to years and figures showed Powys Reduction Partnership on a be done;however,the county has revealed. topping a Welsh road crash number of road safety projects has seen an 83 per cent Council officials say that league table for six years. and initiatives. We have decrease in the number of hard work and a number of However,PCC says that assessed 84 Powys’ residents young people who were killed specialist initiatives are the accident figures and particu- through our motorcycle on our roads from 2007 to reasons behind the decrease. larly those involving motorcy- assessment scheme and we 2008. The announcement comes cles have decreased over the have also trained 223 young “Powys is 25 per cent of after MP Roger Williams last last three years. drivers through the Pass Plus Wales and has the longest week called for action to tack- PCC’s board member for Cymru course in 2009 alone. road network.The important le the number of people killed road safety,Councillor “There has been a signifi- message for all motorists is and injured in road crashes in Gwilym Evans,said: “We con- cant amount of work carried that you will be safe if you Powys. tinue to work in conjunction out by the council’s Road travel at an appropriate Mr Williams said there were with the police and other Safety Unit to cut the number speed.”