A PASSIONATE debate over the future of the troubled Coleg Gwent Campus, The Hill took place this week.

More than 150 members of the community packed into the St Michael's Centre for the meeting organised by the Bryn-y-Cwm Forum members on Tuesday night.

Some members of the public, which included staff and students of the college, grilled Principal Howard Burton and his colleagues about the future of the campus.

The meeting was sparked following Monmouthshire County Council's cabinet announcement that the authority had agreed to lift the covenant restricting The Hill to educational use until 2016, in exchange for land at the college's Usk campus. The cabinet's decision means that the historic building could be sold to developers interested in the site for other purposes.

During the two-and-a-half hour meeting emotions were running high and several opinions were expressed to Mr Burton and his colleagues.

Chairman Alan Michie opened the meeting and said, "This decision effects the community more than anything. We have not spoken to one person who has not been there. The Hill is regarded by everyone as the jewel in Abergavenny's crown."

Mr Burton told the meeting that he felt it was vital to learn of the community's views and opinions on the matter.

He said, "The college is facing a very difficult financial situation. Over the past two years we have had funding settlements and we are looking to make savings of £3.5million so we had to make some very tough proposals to our governing body.

"One of the proposals is the close The Hill with effect from August 31. Unfortunately we cannot make the college financially viable."

Mr Burton confirmed there were at least two possible rescue bids, one from staff and the other from the charity Mulberry House but said nothing had been out "into writing."

Forum members criticised the principal for not consulting with the group prior to the meeting. He said that he had informed as many people as possible from April 1 and apologised for missing the Forum.

Forum member Richard Williams said, "It seem to me this is all about the money," to which the hall erupted with cheers.

"Some three quarters of a million was invested in The Hill some years ago and more than £400,000 came from MCC - what was that for?

"What did you do to reduce your costs? what's going on? In other words, as Sir Alan Sugar would say, nobody turned around and said, 'you're fired.'"

Communities First Co-ordinator Lee McPherson addressed the meeting and told members how important education and a facility like The Hill was for children living in areas of deprivation in the county.

Forum member David Haswell asked Mr Burton why there was no longer an advisory board, to which he was told that there we no boards throughout Coleg Gwent anymore.

Mr Haswell said, "It's not about pointing fingers. It's about the political truth in decision making in the county - we could be misled."

Mr Burton told the meeting that at The Hill there are only 19 students aged between 16 and 18 years old who study there, "when we compare that with Crosskeys which has 2,500, Ebbw Vale 800 and Newport 1,300. It's about priority and making the best of money we receive from the Welsh Assembly Government.

"I deeply respect the history of The Hill and I want to listen to proposals given. I regret the proposals to close it and I refute claims that we have failed," he added.

A young student stood up and said that the marketing for the college needed addressing. "It has a lot of potential and you're really failing to see that. A lot of young people don't know where it is, it needs marketing."

Forum member David Brancher questioned whether the college could be used as a sixth form establishment, linked to King Henry VIII Comprehensive, "I think it's time for a little bit of imagination," he said.

Member of the public Jeremy Gass suggested the community needed to address WAG and not Coleg Gwent, "We are seeing a problem with funding here. Although my heart is with you my head says we need to turn our attention to WAG."

Monmouth AM Nick Ramsay addressed the meeting and said he would take arguments to the WAG.

"It's a very sad day when we talk about these matters. This is not the first time I have heard that people have not been consulted. We do have a short time frame and closure is almost upon us. It's important that people get their feelings across.

"There's something very wrong going on here. Howard Burton has not taken this decision lightly. The people of Abergavenny, the staff and learners deserve a chance."

There was a vote taken and the majority agreed on rejecting the proposals to sell The Hill, ask for an extension to the consultation and to lobby the Welsh Assembly Government to review the funding priority. Mr Burton told the meeting that consultation ends on June 29.