Almost a year after Monmouthshire County Council dramatically withdrew the former Park Street School from an auction, the building still stands empty

Since the withdrawal discussions have been on-going between Abergavenny Community Centre and the local authority to explore ways that Monmouthshire County Council can help support a scheme for a new community provision in Abergavenny but to little avail with campaigners failing in their efforts to put together a successful plan that was acceptable to grant providers.

The site of the school has planning approved to build 14 new homes. The original scheme included the building's conversion into a community centre with a creche, workshops, drop-in cafe and luncheon club for pensioners.

This scheme was submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund but the group failed in its bid for a grant of £800,000 and failed to gain financial backing from Abergavenny Town Council which voted unanimously against using taxpayers' money to fund the scheme.

Monmouthshire Council Council is currently responsible for maintaining the building and has budgeted £25,000 for this financial year - an amount which includes the cost of demolishing and removing the demountable buildings.

The latest scheme understood to be under consideration by the Abergavenny Community Centre group could see it linking with a Brecon based nursery operator who is looking to expand into this area.

A spokesman for MCC said, "The nursery organisation Fundays has been part of the discussions, but only peripherally in relation to its role as a potential partner to the lead organisation, Abergavenny Community Centre.

He added that the community group is currently preparing a business case which it plans to present to the authority soon so that a decision can be made about whether the building is leased to the group for delivery of a community enterprise.

The community group is due to re-present its proposals to the council next month.