PART of the playing fields at a Caldicot school will be sold off so that a second supermarket can be built in the town.

Proceeds from the sale of some of the fields attached to Caldicot Comprehensive will be used to fund much-needed maintenance of the school. The move will provide a second supermarket for Caldicot, something already identified as a key part of the town's regeneration.

Monmouthshire county council cabinet this week approved the disposal of no more than 16,200 square metres (four acres) for a new store to compete with the existing Somerfield supermarket.

A report to the cabinet stated that "the possibility of releasing a portion of the school playing field while retaining more than sufficient area for its needs could assist in radically improving its learning environment."

Councillor Pam Birchall, cabinet member responsible for economic development, said: "If it helps the regeneration and the footfall through the town, then it's worth it. "Selling off school land must be a one-off incident but I'm supportive of anything that looks like it may bring jobs to the area."

After Wednesday's meeting, Susan Gwyer-Roberts, Caldicot Compre-hensive head teacher, said she was unable to comment as she hadn't heard from the council officially as yet.

But John Crowther, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Trade, told the Argus: "The people and businesses of Caldicot should be well pleased with this decision as the town has been dying on its feet for some time now.

"In the past we have had two supermarkets, but since Kwik Save was shut down we have lost a huge amount of trade to out-of-town supermarkets such as the Tesco stores in Chepstow and Newport.

"This will hopefully be the beginning of a kickstart for Caldicot." According to the School Premises Regulations, a minimum of just over 14.82 acres of playing field are needed to accommodate a pupil population of 1,501 to 1,650.

In September 2002, 1,486 pupils enrolled at Caldicot Comprehensive and - including a section of land leased to Sudbrook cricket club and the proposed new supermarket - the council says there should be 22.43 acres of land around the school left over. The Institute of Public Finance also carried out a survey of the school and estimated that more than £3.9 million worth of maintenance work was needed.