Negotiations over the future of The Hill College in Abergavenny may resume this week.

This follows a meeting of CASH (Community Action to Save The Hill) representatives with Jim Bennet, the Principal of Coleg Gwent, last Thursday. Agreement was reached that Mr Bennett and Dr Ta'eed, the prospective buyer, would meet and attempt to resolve differences.

A CASH spokesperson said, "We hope for give and take by both sides in these private talks and that there will be an early resolution to the benefit of Abergavenny. We appreciate that this is a problem that Mr Bennett has inherited and is not of his doing. Nonetheless, in seeking to obtain best value from this asset Coleg Gwent would be unwise to ignore local feeling and the educational and community provision that can still be offered there and is integral to The Hill's value."

Support for CASH's campaign to keep The Hill open for education and community activity continues to grow. Mark Whitcutt, Labour Assembly Candidate for Monmouth, says "I most certainly support the campaign for the Hill College and shall prioritise it" adding his backing alongside David Davies MP and Nick Ramsay AM.

Following the meeting it is hoped there will be a new and productive dialogue between the community and the college.

If new negotiations between Dr Ta'eed and Mr Bennett are not successfully concluded, CASH representatives will seek a meeting with the trustees of Coleg Gwent to ensure that all the issues have been examined before any decision is made to sell the site.

On Friday 25 February at St Michael's Centre, CASH is holding a public meeting beginning at 7.30pm (immediately after the AGM). Dr Ta'eed will address this meeting along with Derek Tatton, administrator of the Raymond Williams Foundation. Dr Nicola Perkins Director of Mulberry House and Chair of Partnership at The Hill (PATH) and Irena Morgan from Friends of Gardd y Bryn will also be present to talk of their work and answer any questions.

At this meeting, CASH representatives will feed back the results of last Thursday's discussions with Mr Bennett and also hope to report that a meeting between Dr Ta'eed and Mr Bennett has taken place.

A spokesman for Coleg Gwent said on Tuesday: "The College was able to correct some misconceptions about the current position over the future of The Hill, particularly over Dr Ta'eed's withdrawal from his agreement to buy The Hill.

"The College was able to stress that it was not responsible for any delays in finalising the agreement struck several months ago, and had extended a subsequent lease arrangement several times to give Dr Ta'eed more time to raise the necessary funding.

"It would be irresponsible to accept any new offer without thoroughly assessing its options, which it was now doing. The College was able to remind the representatives of CASH of its previous offer to re-engage with Dr Ta'eed should he wish to return to his original agreement with the College.

"The College confirmed that its preferred option would be for The Hill to remain as an educational facility, and overall felt the meeting was very constructive.

"Subsequent to the meeting last week, Dr Ta'eed has contacted the College asking for a meeting, which the College will arrange on the basis that there is something new Dr Ta'eed wishes to discuss."

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