Park Street building pulled from auction for Lottery bid

Abergavenny's old Park Street Infants School may be turned into a centre for the community if plans to get funding are accepted.

The old school site was removed from auction last week to enable a community group to bid for cash from the Big Lottery Fund.

Through a scheme called the Community Assets Transfer Fund, members of the community in Abergavenny have submitted an 'expression of interest' and will hear in the next two weeks if the bid will qualify for further consideration. They hope the money will allow Monmouthshire County Council to transfer the building to the community.

Leader of Monmouthshire County Council, Peter Fox, said:

"As an authority we have to get the best price we can when we sell off our assets but we also want the best for our communities in Monmouthshire so this is a good development.

"We completely support this bid and we will work with the community in Abergavenny to do as much as we can to get a centre that will enrich people's lives".

Marion Pearse, The Secretary of Abergavenny Community Centre Ltd said:

"If all goes to plan by mid next year Monmouthshire County Council will have received a capital payment to cover the transfer cost, and Abergavenny will have a community centre that is focussed on developing local projects and good ideas.

"This is the ultimate win-win, as the council will stay on target to meet the capital requirements of the Education Strategic Review in Monmouthshire.

"It's not over yet but I'd like to thank all those who have supported our efforts to transform the building into a multi-use community centre."

The Big Lottery Fund works with the Welsh Assembly Government to deliver a Community Asset Transfer Programme (CAT).  This programme provides both capital and revenue funding to support the transfer of assets, such as land and buildings, from public sector organisations to community ownership.