WITH the prospect of Holsworthy's livestock market moving to a new site in the foreseeable future, at last Wednesday's Town Council meeting Cllr Des Jose put forward a radical and imaginative plan for the development of the current market site.

Holsworthy, with its schools full and lack of employment, could not cope with any more new housing over and above that already planned, he said.

Bideford had its Atlantic Village, Barnstaple its Green Lanes, so why shouldn't Holsworthy have its own new shopping centre with a large free car park, which would attract well known chain stores like Next, New Look, Argos and W H Smith?

Access would be via a new roundabout at the Coles Mill entrance to the cattle market.

He also suggested that the Pannier Market should be moved to under cover premises on the site, thereby solving the Wednesday parking problem and the early morning disturbance suffered by residents while the market stalls were being set up.

Shoppers would be attracted to the town, he said, and jobs created.

Cllr Jose stressed he was merely floating an idea. A survey should be conducted to find out what people, including the pupils of the Community College, wanted and the ideas put to Torridge District Council.

Other councillors said no ideas should be ruled out and Clare Dalley, the Town Clerk, said the site could be linked to the cycle way with cycle hire facilities.

Invited to speak, District and County Councillor Barry Parsons said the capital generated by the old cattle market would be used to finance the new site. Without giving away any details, he said he was impressed by a recent stakeholders' meeting.

The move to a new cattle market, offering opportunities for investment, business and employment, had the potential to change the town for the better. It was important for the community to be consulted and ideas put before Torridge District Council.