COUNTY civic chiefs are to proceed with the sale of Dorset’s only traditional livestock market to a budget supermarket operator despite the threat of potential legal action.

North Dorset District Council have said that sale of Shaftesbury cattle market needs to go ahead because said any action to delay it could "compromise" the sale.

It comes after the Dorset Echo learnt last month that the district council has argeed to sell the site to LIDL for £1.9 million to progress development plans for a new store in the town, however LIDL have refused to comment on the sale.

In response, Shaftesbury Town Council said that they are seeking legal advice explore the possibility of legal action to stop the sale and recently agreed to hold a poll to discuss whether the town council should fund a judicial review in the High Court.

In a statement, Martin Hamilton, NDDCs strategic director for economy, assets and infrastructure said: "It has taken considerable time and energy to get to secure agreement with SCA to bring forward the sale of this site.

"Any action now to delay the process pending community consultation would risk compromising this work and send an unhelpful signal to those minded to invest in Shaftesbury.

"For these reasons, I am not prepared to suspend the sale process. I will continue to keep the town council informed of the progress of the sale."

Southern Counties Auctioneers which run the market have leased the site off Christy’s Lane from NDDC since 1967, however, the livestock market in Shaftesbury has been going on since the 19th century and the existing market can trace its history back to 1902 when John Jeffery began an open-air market in Bell Street.

Currently, the market hosts dairy cattle sales periodically, as well as weekly calf and beef store sales, as well as an Aberdeen Angus show and sale takes place each April.

However, NDDC told the Echo that cattle sales were in decline which contributed to the decision to sell it.

As previously reported in May, the site, located at Christy’s Lane, had been marketed covertly by NDDC and Southern Counties and had attracted bids from a number of providers of retail, hospitality and leisure services.

The council then announced it is going to be ‘a leading supermarket chain’ but did not reveal the name of it, however, Lidl are thought to be the store involved.

A spokesman for Shaftesbury Town Council, said: "The Council has resolved to allocate up to £10,000 for legal and professional advice on this matter."

The spokesman added that they would not comment further until waiting for the outcome of the parish poll which is due to be held on August 9.