Although negotiations over the future of The Hill College in Abergavenny have broken down Community Action to Save the Hill (CASH) is continuing to argue that it must be saved for community benefit.

In addition to the existing plans for a residential ballet school, Primo Balletto, and environmental courses at The Hill, the group set up by interested local groups PATH (Partnership at The Hill) has other ambitious plans, many of which are well developed.

There is huge support from universities and adult education centres for The Hill to become a residential library using the 11,000 books donated by the Raymond Williams' Foundation. The Hill is an ideal location because of Professor Williams' links with the area.

This would lead to the promotion of retreats for reading, writing, research project work, and small discussion groups, with the Foundation funding individuals and small groups to take part.

There has been continuing interest from tutors to return to The Hill and run a variety of adult education courses, some of which would be residential, hopefully attracting people from all over the UK and beyond once more.

The Friends of Gardd-y-Bryn have already done a great of work to restore the walled garden to its original 1798 condition.

Preliminary plans have been drawn up to site a theatre complex on the 10 acres of grassland adjacent to The Hill. This would be used by Primo Balletto and provide opportunities for productions by Gwent Theatre, King Henry VIII School and other performing arts groups.

The woodland at The Hill is providing opportunities for local groups to gain skills in woodland management. A group from Abergavenny Climate Action (aca) have already started work in the grounds. Plans for other activities in the woodland such as Forest Schools have had to be put on hold for the moment.

These substantial projects, which would ensure community involvement at the heart of The Hill, are all now jeopardised. CASH representatives will shortly be talking to Coleg Gwent about its intentions.

Derek Tatton of the Raymond Williams' Foundation says "In the present economic climate demanding an unrealistic price for sale will simply mean that The Hill remains empty for months if not years. This position and policy will help nobody and, not least, it will do no good whatever for Coleg Gwent."

A prominent member of Abergavenny and District Tourist Association Jenny Jones from The Guest House said she was appalled by the latest news. "Considering that tourism is so important for the town of Abergavenny then this closure will have a profound affect. We had been hoping that the ballet school would bring fresh life to the town and with parents visiting and collecting their children this again would have boosted the town."

Richard Lewis of adventa said, "You have my strong support in this fight to save The Hill and the wonderful opportunities offered through the partnership between Dr Ta'eed, Mulberry House and the community."

CASH invites everyone to rally behind this renewed attempt to save The Hill for the community at a time when public sector budgets are under severe threat. Their members maintain that Abergavenny must work together to save community facilities.

In a statement issued by Coleg Gwent in response to CASH an offer was made for the group and the Friends of Gardd-y-Bryn to meet officials from the college. The full statement reads: "Coleg Gwent is aware of some of the developments being discussed by the community with the former leaseholder of The Hill. Unfortunately none of these discussions have involved the owners of The Hill – Coleg Gwent.

The College has an obligation in law and to the whole community to secure best value from any of its assets. Now that the College has been let down on the agreement it had in place to sell The Hill, we have to start a process to secure best value now for The Hill.

As part of that we will re-assess all of our options.

"We need to re-invest the proceeds from the disposal of The Hill back into the College for the benefit of our learners. We have always taken the views of the local community very seriously by meeting with any groups in a position to represent those views and we will continue to do so.

"We have invited representatives from the Bryn y Cwm Forum and CASH to meet with us.

"We look forward to hearing those views, and we will do our best to act on them whilst bearing in mind the best interests of the College.

"The College has had no direct approach from the Friends of Gardd-Y-Bryn to have access to the grounds, but we would be willing to consider such requests."