EVERY communication received so far expressed views to keep the Newton Abbot Livestock Market where it is, clerk Rod Tuck told Wednesday's meeting of the town council finance and general purposes committee.
A council working party is looking into the issue following a consultants' report to Teignbridge Council, which stated the area could be sold off for retail development.
Through the media the town council invited residents and farmers to have their say on its future asking: 1) Should it continue in its present location? 2a) Should a new market be built within the boundaries of Newton Abbot? b) If so, where? 3) Should the market close?
But Cllr David Howe said he assumed the remit of the working party was to report back to the committee.
'The way I read it in the press they were loaded questions.
'This is all about the livestock market. Too often, I am afraid, you get just the word market. People identify it as closing the indoor market, etc.
'The livestock market is what it is all about. For anyone to make a full-blown decision at this stage is totally unrealistic,' said Cllr Howe, who pointed out that on Wednesday the livestock market was very healthy, but on other days it had not been.
'I do not like the way we have tied ourselves to the review group,' he stated and maintained the working party's options of 1) Leave the market where it is; 2) Move it; 3) Close it; should have also included the possibility of revamping it.
Cllr Henry Cole hit back that the people he had spoken to were quite clear on the matter.
'Eighteen months ago we fought to keep the Market Walk and we fought to keep the Butter Market where it is, after proposals were put forward to move it above the Somerfield supermarket.
'This morning the market was packed and they were waiting to get in. Last week it was low, but a lot of farmers from Cornwall and North Devon could not get in because of the snow.
'I want the livestock market to stay where it is and I think the majority of the town wants it to stay there,' he said.
Agreeing, Cllr geraldine Gaskell said they did not want more shops there.
'There are already enough charity shops in the town,' she said, adding that she would hold Cllr David Corney's hand in front of the bulldozers. Cllr Corney has said he would lie down in front of the bulldozers to save the market
Cllr Corney said there were many others in the town who said they would do the same and there was a strength of feeling to save it.
'The public do understand the difference between the market and livestock market and I would like to keep it open and enhance the facilities,' he said.
Cllr Reg Wills appealed for the working party to keep an open mind on the situation 'and not nail our colours to the mast by saying it should stay'.
'We want to hear the financial figures. The market facilities need to be revamped and its use maximised.
'The sheep market under the multi-storey car park is under utilised. Perhaps it could be transferred into the cattle market to utilise it, and we could then have two markets a week and that would bring extended car parking on five days. Market traders would benefit by car parking close at hand.
'I could go out and say we want to keep the market and I would get a pat on the back, but we must keep an open mind and see what is feasible,' he said.
The chairman, Cllr Roger Mewis, said: 'If Teignbridge Council comes along and says put your money where your mouth is, are we prepared to put the money in and make it financially viable?' he asked.
In a letter to the council, the town's chamber of trade maintained selling the market site was not in the long-term interests of Newton Abbot.
The livestock market needed to be revitalised and the long-awaited refurbishment of Market Walk required immediate action.
The working party, which meets again next week, has considered three possible moves – to Seale-Hayne, Forches Cross and Jetty Marsh – and the latter was considered the only viable site if it went out of the town.
Councillors willdiscuss the matter at the transportation committee on March 24.