AN ABERGAVENNY campaign group has announced it is backing a local family that has put in a bid to buy The Hill.

The site was placed on the market after Dr Olinga Ta'eed announced earlier this year that he was abandoning his plan to run a ballet school there.

Coleg Gwent put the sale in the hands of estate agents Cooke and Arkwright and the Chronicle understands that bids for the house and site are to be considered early next week.

A Community Action to Save The Hill (CASH) spokesperson said, "For a number of months we have been working behind the scenes to find a sympathetic buyer for The Hill and a few weeks ago we were fortunate enough to make contact with a local resident who is prepared to buy The Hill and lease it for educational and community purposes to a local educational charity with whom we have links.

If his bid is successful then we shall have restored The Hill to its original purpose as stipulated in the restrictive covenant."

The campaign by CASH has received support from a wide range of individuals and local organisations including the town council and the Civic Society.

The chief executive of Monmouthshire County Council told CASH recently that, "The council certainly isn't in a position to buy and run the Hill but we are open to being a part of a new future."

Among those who have worked to bring CASH's plans to fruition are local businessmen Ben Jones, Kim Waters, (chief executive of the Food Festival), David Haswell, Abergavenny Development Forum, local solicitor Hugh Candler and Chris Edmondson, chair of Bryn y Cwm Forum.

"If this local bid is successful it will be a win-win situation for everyone." says CASH.

"Coleg Gwent will get the money it wishes to invest in other campuses while at the same time it will have secured the future of The Hill as an educational resource in the hands of Abergavenny people.

The local educational charity will be able to expand its activities on a more advantageous site and the Victorian Garden will continue to be tended by the voluntary group Friend's of Gardd y Bryn."