ONE of Otley's auction marts has been forced to close after 65 years because of rising costs and plunging prices.

In a huge blow to the farming industry across Wharfedale, the management of Otley Cattle Market Auction Ltd has decided to stop holding its twice-weekly livestock sales at Bridge End Auction Mart because of difficult trading conditions currently faced by farmers.

The last auction was held amidst emotional scenes last Saturday and the site now faces an uncertain future.

Otley was believed to have been the only town in the country to still have two auction marts.

Cattle Market Auction Chairman, Bill Cowling, said he was sad to have to close the auction, but said the company faced no other option given atrocious trading conditions over the last few years.

"After a thorough examination of all the factors of the trade, both national and international, we have reluctantly decided to discontinue holding livestock auctions at Bridge End," he said.

"Ever increasing costs have led us to this decision, which is very sad, but all livestock markets are in difficulty at the moment.

"We didn't want to get into the situation where we could not fulfil our obligations, and all creditors will get paid. We remain as committed as ever to providing efficient marketing service for our customers, but the costs of this operation, and of the attendant regulatory burden, have become too great for us to contemplate."

Mr Cowling also blamed the BSE scare, changes in the European Union's agricultural policies, the strength of the pound and new government legislation effecting farmers for the closure.

He said that the lease of the market has been surrendered to freeholders, FM Lister & Son.

Secretary of the National Farmers Union, Michael Rhodes, said: "All farmers in Wharfedale and Aireborough will be sad that this has had to happen after such a long time. It provided a wonderful facility for the agricultural community but its closure is a sign of the times.

"Otley was almost certainly unique in having two life stock markets but it wasn't possible to sustain both.

"We have worked closely with the people concerned for the best part of 40 years. I am particularly sorry for the Lister family, who have supported the market throughout that time."

Mr Rhodes also said the future of the abattoir on Bondgate was also "in the balance".

"I suspect that will disappear thanks to Sainsbury's before too long, which is another blow," he added. An abbatoir spokesman was unavilable for comment.

Future plans for the site have not yet been decided but the loose equipment and weighing machines of the auction mart company will be sold by auction sometime in March.

Yesterday, Wharfedale Farmers Auction Mart, off Leeds Road, announced that it would step into the breach to hold fortnightly Saturday store sales, starting this weekend at 11am. Company directors said that there was still a need for a Saturday market in the town but because of previous selling arrangements, it was not possible to operate every Saturday.

l Otley's popular car boot sale will continue to use the Bridge End Cattle Mart's site as usual, its organiser has claimed. Bob Cass, who runs the car boot sale which uses the former cattle mart's car park every Sunday, was tight-lipped about the future of the event. A terse statement issued by him simply said: "The car boot sale will continue as usual."

l Farmers in despair over closure - P10;

Our comment - P8. Final closing prices, P24.

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