Keys to the former Park Street school building were finally handed over to Abergavenny Community Trust last Thursday and the town's new community hub is set to be launched there on the last day of February.

Director Marion Pearse told the Chronicle, "The new resource centre will be a family-friendly, multi-generational, multi-cultural place where you, and your family can come to play, work, learn, create, eat, drink, talk and listen - a place to belong."

In the run-up to the opening, ACT members are calling on local tradespeople, organisations and businesses for their help, in particular to lay a path at the Merthyr Road entrance for mobility scooters and pedestrians.

The idea for the centre first came about in 2004, around the time it became clear that the infants school was going to close.

"People didn't want to lose the building and the groundswell which followed gave rise to a local plan to bring Needs and Strengths together, under the same roof, to create new opportunities to meet, share, care and grow," Marion explained.

"We believe in self-help, and this centre is a direct response to complex social situations we know exist, and that we can't afford to overlook."

At one point the site was due to be sold by Monmouthshire County Council for between £300,000 and £350,000, with the cash from the sale going into the council's education budget. However, it was withdrawn before the auction to give the group representing the community time to raise the cash.

The feeling was that the project was an investment in the future of the town.

Councillor Bob Greenland said at the time, "I believe this is a project that has identified a need and that the proposal has been well thought out and it far out weighs any financial receipt that we might have obtained."

Having ultimately secured a 25-year lease on the building, members of ACT are naturally delighted that the official handover has finally come.

Christopher Aldous, Director responsible for Security and Safety said, "Considering the building has been empty since 2006 it's in a sound condition, and the recent safety works means that we have a place to meet that is now safe, dry, friendly and warm.

"As soon as the building handover took place last Thursday, the clean-up operation began and next week volunteers will carry out some internal decorating, ahead of opening the centre on the St. David's Day weekend."

He added, "While most of the labour is done by volunteers there are some things that we can't do without the help of local tradespeople, business and organisations getting behind us.

"The biggest challenge we face as we approach opening is to create a path at the Merthyr Road entrance for mobility scooters and pedestrians to use so people don't have to negotiate the uneven hardstanding that was left after the demountable classrooms were demolished in 2012."

Paul Downs, Director of Operations and Project Manager said, "The community centre has been ten years in the planning, and seeing the space open to the public will signal the start of the second phase of the organisation's five year development plan.

"With the help and support of many Friends over the years, the Abergavenny Community Trust has managed to secure the old school for the benefit of the community. After sustaining this effort for so long, we are now appealing for more people to lend support and help us build on the incredible momentum created to date.

"Whether it's expertise, time and effort, goods or a financial contribution, all of these are valuable donations which we will put to good use, locally."

County Councillor Phil Murphy, cabinet member with responsibility for estates said, "I'm absolutely delighted to have been able to help Abergavenny Community Trust with the Park Street project and wish them every success."

The launch of the centre on February 28 will feature a show by award-winning puppeteers, Puppet Soup, who will perform 'Land of the Dragon - Gwlad y Ddraig' , a five star piece of bilingual theatre suitable for everyone. Tickets are £5, with sales in aid of the Abergavenny Community Centre.

For more details of activities both on the opening weekend and into the future please visit abergavenny-community-trust.org.uk or call 07889 836361, or drop in at the centre to see how you can help.