THE SCHEME to convert Park Street School building into a community hub has now got official recognition - and is one step closer to becoming a reality.

Monmouthshire County Council's Cabinet has approved the proposal to lease the Victorian school building to the Abergavenny Community Trust so that it can become a social hub for a variety of uses, including learning and community arts and a children's nursery.

The scheme was approved as part of MCC's 'Your County, Your Way' policy which supports residents to build their own resilience through the development of local initiatives and social enterprise.

Councillor Phil Hobson, who has responsibility for Community Development in Monmouthshire, said, "This is a development which has evolved following significant interest from the local community itself and as this council has chosen to support projects at grassroots level, this is exactly the type of scheme we had in mind.

"The site could have been sold and we could have been in receipt of around £300,000 but what can't be valued in financial terms is having a centre as the social hub of a community. And in time the benefits will only go on and on."

Leader of the council, Councillor Peter Fox pointed out, "Leasing the building to the Trust gives the community the opportunity to do things for themselves, exactly what the policy had intended. It's been a long journey for all those involved."

Councillor Bob Greenland added, "The building was withdrawn from the auction of redundant buildings as the local community had came up with a good alternative plan for the old school.

"During the past year we have worked with the Trust to take the plans forward, which have since been strengthened.

"I believe this is a project that has identified a need and that the proposal has been well thought out and it far outweighs any financial receipt that we might have obtained."

Councillor Liz Hacket Pain agreed but added a note of caution: "I would be keen to see a regular progress report and recommend that the Trust should come back to this council in a year's time."

Councillor Geoff Burrows said that the Trust needed to liaise with social services and other organisations to check that their activities were not doubling up with what was already available locally.

Councillor Giles Howard added, "People getting involved in their local community are hard to find and I admire those who have made a decision to take on this project."

Councillor Simon Howarth added,"Marian Pearse and her team have worked hard over the past five or six years to get to where we are today and therefore we need to look at supporting them with this project."

Councillor Phil Murphy that in the fullness of time MCC might be in a position to permanently forgo the capital receipts from the building. although Councillor Hobson point that there were are measures within the lease that should the enterprise fail gave the council the opportunity to dispose of the building."

Councillor Fox said, "We've heard a very positive set of views and with the addition of the progress report provision in 12 months' time, we have no problem in presenting the Trust's business plan to the full council."

Speaking afterwards Marian Pearse, a spokeswoman for the Abergavenny Community Trust said, "The decision to grant a 25-year lease on the building is hugely significant. In funding terms, a long lease provides potential funders with assurance, and it gives them confidence to release financial aid. So, after seven years, the asset is finally secure and now it feels like we're reaching the beginning."

Ms Pearse added: "We are now hoping that this week's full council meeting will support the decision of the Cabinet, and then we can really start to move forward.  

"The motivation behind the movement is to create an ethical business that is set up to trade and turn profit into local projects which support ordinary people, in everyday situations. This is a social business and we exist to serve local people. 

The decision marks a new beginning for community enterprise and I'd like to hear from fellow business and social entrepreneurs in the area."

For information on proposed activities or to contact the project management team visit community-centre-abergavenny.com.