MYSTERY appears to surround the closure of an educational facility in Abergavenny.

The Ty'r Morwydd Environmental Study Centre on Pen-y-pound, closed its doors on Friday, March 30 in a move that has been described "as surprisingly sudden", with the staff employed there and others who have been associated with the centre, being dismayed by the news.

Mulberry House - as it is also known - is owned by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and it was known by the centre's trustees that only a few years remained on its lease.

The building was sub-let to three companies one charity and together they employed 15 people.

But following Dr Olinga Ta'eed's decision to resign last autumn as chairman of trustees and Dr Nicola Perkins leaving the Centre as chief executive in November 2011, its future had become uncertain with a drop in income from educational authorities no longer financing residential field studies.

A former manager of Ty'r Morwydd until 2006 Jon Gruffydd from Crickhowell said, "I wish to express my profound sadness and disappointment that such a marvellous educational facility and service has come to an end after over 30 years in existence.

"Over that period the centre catered for many thousands of school and college groups and other visitors from within Wales and from other parts of the British Isles and beyond.

"Its staff provided a high quality service in all departments, from administration, catering and accommodation to the teaching of geography and ecology fieldwork.

"In a welcoming and friendly atmosphere they provided the perfect introduction to Wales and its landscape, heritage and culture.

"Members of staff worked above and beyond the call of duty to keep Ty'r Morwydd open despite the many difficulties that confronted them."

Mr Gruffydd pointed out that the impact of its closure was far-reaching as a significant number of local people would have been made redundant and emphasised that there would be a reduction in the number of visitors to the area who would otherwise have spent their money in local shops and on other services.

He added, "The closure means that thousands of schoolchildren and students who were relying on their visit for their coursework and preparation for examinations this year are now facing last minute, unexpected changes and the challenge of finding an alternative venue for their studies."

Mr Gruffydd added that there are a number of serious questions that remain.

"Why was the closure so sudden? Did the most recent board of trustees do everything within their power to help try to save the centre and what will the building and adjoining land be used for in the future? " asked Mr Gruffydd

"I feel our local councillors and politicians should take a keen interest in the answers to these questions and more. Will it be converted or will the site be redeveloped?"

Operating under the umbrella of Mulberry House was the Ty'r Morwydd Environmental Studies Centre (both a registered charity and a company), Mulberry House (as a conference centre) and Mulberry House Hostel (a Youth Hostel Association franchise).

The centre had gone from strength to strength during 2011 under the direction of Dr Perkins who had been engaging with the local community to develop new elements to the business, including environmental education for the wider community and increased take up on room hire.

But the centre's demise is understood to have been brought about partly as a result of the extreme pressure to diversify following the signs that funding and popularity from schools to support residential field studies had significantly reduced.

The Chronicle was unable to contact Kamma Foulkes, the new chairman of the trustees who took up her post at the end of last year.

The Mulberry House website simply stated that, "The centre has now ceased trading" and directed people to its liquidator Jones Giles Ltd of 11 Coopers Yard, Curran Road in Cardiff.