FARMERS have been assured that it is business as usual at Masham auction mart even though it has been suggested that the site could be used for housing.

The suggestion has been made by consultants working on a planning blueprint for the future of Masham as part of a new local development framework being prepared by Harrogate Borough Council.

A spokesman for Masham Farmers' Livestock Auction Mart Company assured farmers, however, that at this stage, the company had no intention of applying for alternative planning permission for the site in Leyburn Road, which opened about 100 years ago.

David Broadley, one of the directors, said the company was simply keeping its options open in case it eventually found that the mart was no longer commercially viable because of changes in the industry.

Planning consultants, Turley Associates, said they had identified the mart site for possible housing because it was previously-developed land in the urban area, it was not an employment site and was grossly under-used.

It was within walking distance of the town centre and public transport, and redevelopment would improve the adjoining conservation area. They added that it was one of only three sites in Masham identified in an earlier urban capacity study document for housing ten years ago.

The mart, previously run on a local voluntary basis, was leased to the Skipton-based Craven Cattle Marts three years ago in the wake of the foot-and-mouth epidemic.

Ironically, where it was previously open only once a fortnight, it is now seeing more use on a weekly basis than before foot-and-mouth, CCM having introduced sales of fat sheep and cattle as well as breeding sheep and cattle.

Mr Broadley, whose great grandfather was involved in the formation of the Masham company, said it was not known what the future might hold for auction marts in legislation and regulation following foot-and-mouth.

Factors which had to be considered included fewer farmers and mart standards, and the company wanted to guard against the possibility of the Masham site eventually becoming uneconomic.

Mr Broadley said only a nominal rent was received from the CCM lease and the buildings were greatly in need of improvement.

He said: "Farming has gone through a revolution because of foot-and-mouth and is now going through what could be called a mid-term review. We as an auction mart are totally dependent on legislation and regulation imposed on farming and marts by Defra.

"We have been asked by shareholders to look into the question of planning permission but if, during the next ten years, we want to apply for that, the site would have to be in the ten-year local plan. At the moment we hope it will be put into the prospective plan.

"I must stress that at this stage there is no intention of applying for planning permission. We as directors have to keep all our options open and it is down to what the future brings. We want to continue providing a service but we don't want to be left at some stage with a site we don't know what to do with."

The local plan is still at the discussion stage. Development and conservation discussion meetings are planned by the borough council, including one for Masham and surrounding parishes, for which a date has yet to be fixed