A HISTORIC building where farmers used to buy and sell cattle looks set to be demolished.

The Auction House, on Firepool, is currently used as a warehouse for the charity Refugee Aid From Taunton (RAFT).

But until Taunton Cattle Market closed in January 2008, it was where farmers gathered every Saturday to take part in livestock sales.

Now Somerset West and Taunton Council has submitted an application to its planners to bulldoze the building.

The application is also looking to clear the site; raise the ground to create platform formation levels; carry out ground remediation work and flood mitigation; primary foul and surface water drainage networks and connections for future developments.

The applications says: "The infrastructure works will remove the existing above ground obstructions to future development of the site, this includes the Auction House building, historic structures and walls from the previous cattle market use and miscellaneous street furniture on the site.

"Below ground obstructions consisting of existing sewers will be removed or relocated to free up the development footprint and new sewer networks will be constructed to collect and convey wastewater

from the future development to the existing infrastructure including sustainable drainage techniques.

"Ground remediation will be carried out alongside bulk earthworks to raise the site and create development platforms for future parcels.

"The development plateaus will be provided at a level to protect whatever form the future development might take from fluvial flooding from the River Tone whilst maintaining connections to the surrounding infrastructure.

"The existing pedestrian and cycle link through the site will be reprovided on the development plateau and will incorporate access to the existing Wessex Water siphon.

"Existing site fencing will be reinstated to retain security of the site until the future development can commence.

"The Firepool public car park will be retained as an active car park for public and Contractor use as long as is required by Somerset West and Taunton Council."