Despite the effects of the pandemic on Abergavenny Community Centre, plenty has been going on with the building and the grounds since March.

Now the Trust that runs the Community Centre is seeking someone with a passion for buildings to join the Board of Trustees to support them in taking forward their ambitious plans for the future.

Chris Irving who chairs the Estates Committee of the Trust explained: “We are close to signing a 25 year lease with our landlord, Monmouthshire County Council, for the former Park St Infants School. 

‘‘We want to appoint a trustee with experience in the technical side of looking after buildings. This role may suit someone who has been involved in the building industry. Our plans include expanding the community growing space,  making the grounds  more hospitable to all visitors, and continuing to make improvements to the building itself”.

Freddy Edmonds, another trustee, has been closely involved with significant changes that have been taking place in the grounds since the summer.  An application to Keep Wales Tidy for support through their ‘Local Places For Nature’ scheme resulted in the offer of a flood mitigation package when they saw all the tarmac.

Freddy described some of the benefits of this Sustainable Drainage Scheme: “The Centre is now home to two special large planters that store rainwater runoff, new raised beds for growing vegetables and a wild flower meadow.

‘‘Last week we took delivery of 105 tree seedlings and five fruit trees which our garden volunteers have planted in the grounds and on the banks above Merthyr Road to provide an area of hedging plus extra trees on the banking to improve biodiversity.

‘‘Meanwhile, improvements have been made inside the building too. Thanks to European funding from the Vale of Usk Rural Development Fund the task of installing LED lighting throughout the building has been completed. A grant of £1,000 from Abergavenny Town Council helped to meet the cost of re-varnishing the floor of the main hall.

‘‘Following a decision to take up the old carpets in the meeting rooms as a precaution against spreading Coronavirus, the floor boards revealed in two rooms have been sanded and varnished. The third room is to be covered in the environmentally friendly material Marmoleum. The work on the floors has been made possible by a mix of private donations, £500 from Abergavenny Rotary Club and £2,500 from Comic Relief through Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations. 

If you have experience with buildings or property management and share the trustees’ enthusiasm for community-led social action and environmental justice please contact Jeremy Gass, Secretary to the Trustees at [email protected]  to find out more of what is involved.