What People Are Saying

Gareth Vaughan, President of Farmers’ Union of Wales:
“The Farmers’ Union of Wales is very supportive of Oswestry Cattle Auctions  investing in improved facilities on a 16 Acre portion of the existing site, and know how keen the Auctioneers are to provide improved and modernised facilities at the market in order to prepare for the future. Many of our members are customers and supporters of the market, located as it is on the Welsh/English Borders, and they look forward to it being a thriving, modern facility for the future. The proposed investment by the Auctioneers and Town Council is very welcome news and has the wholehearted support of the Farmers’ Union of Wales.”

Mark Jones, National Farmers’ Union:
“The local farming community is very keen that the Oswestry Smithfield Market should be redeveloped. The current site is becoming obsolete having been erected 40 years ago. The Smithfield is an excellent location with a good road infrastructure to the surrounding border area. New facilities would be a real boost in getting farmers to bring more stock to the market. (Upgraded markets exist in Market Drayton, Shrewsbury, Ruthin and Bridgnorth). We need to secure the market’s future and I feel this would move the market to a new level.”

The Town Mayor Councillor J. Gareth Jones:
“Oswestry Town Council is pleased to be a partner in this innovative project that indicates a strong commercial confidence in Oswestry. We believe the scheme meets many of our long established aspirations in terms of improving recreational and leisure facilities, particularly for our younger community and families, with a state of the art cinema and new restaurant facilities. It also offers the potential for new employment, new business premises and provides for a quality gateway approach into the town. An important aspect of the project is providing for a new livestock market that significantly underpins the large number of agricultural related businesses in Oswestry, North Shropshire and Mid Wales. Lastly, the Town Council welcomes the connectivity proposals from the site with the town centre that offer significant transport gains for the town centre itself, shoppers, visitors and commuters.“

Chris Towers, Liberty Mercian Ltd:
“Joint venture company, Liberty Mercian, wholeheartedly embraces this exciting opportunity to look at a major gateway site for Oswestry, where the potential exists to transform a substantially underutilised site into a rationalised market operation and provide the town with the quantum of development that is justified to adjust the retail leakage from the town and provide an evening leisure amenity for all ages of the community.”

Roy Jones, Chairman, Oswestry Cattle Auctions:
“The rationale behind the scheme is that we will be able to accommodate new legislative requirements in respect of animal movement and hygiene and maximise the efficiency of our operation for the benefit of our customers. Having all sections within easy reach of each other means we can enhance the mobility of staff and improve the service we can offer. By relocating we release an area of under-utilised land that is ideal for redevelopment and will provide the necessary funds for this exciting scheme. As well as safeguarding the future of the market for this and future generations, the scheme will provide the town with around 850 new jobs, much needed leisure facilities and the extra food store which the Council has already identified as being needed in Oswestry.”

Owen Paterson, MP for North Shropshire and Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland: (Mr Paterson is a former Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Food & Fisheries and former Shadow Minister of State for Transport.)
“This imaginative scheme will make excellent use of a strategic site in the town, bringing new jobs and prosperity to the area.  I would like to offer my enthusiastic support for the project.“

Steve Wiener, CEO, Cineworld Group
“We are delighted to be part of the new Mixed Use Development in Oswestry. The development will create a new focal point for the residents and its surrounding area, combining office space with leisure and retail outlets.  Oswestry is a bustling market town with a rich heritage and will benefit greatly from the development which will be located on Shrewsbury Road next to the Cattle Market. We are thrilled to be working with Liberty Mercian Ltd again and are confident the local residents will be pleased with the finished product when it is completed.”