PLAYING fields for a Monmouthshire school could be sold off so a supermarket can be built there.

Proceeds from the sale of some of the fields attached to Caldicot Comprehensive would be used to fund much-needed building maintenance on the school.

Local councillors say the site is a much more favourable option than the King George V playing fields, which are protected for leisure purposes only.

Both the King George V playing fields and the comprehensive school site are near Caldicot town centre and would provide the best location for a new store to compete with the existing Somerfield supermarket.

The governing body of Caldicot Comprehensive School is already interested in pursuing the sale of land on the site, provided the money would be reinvested back into the school to be used for maintenance and development work.

John Crowther, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Trade, said: "Our preferred site was the King George V playing fields as this would have provided many other facilities for the town than just a supermarket. But no matter which site, something must be adopted and adopted quickly because this town centre is going to die.

"If the school site is developed a lot of alterations would need to be done to Woodstock Way. We do not want the supermarket to be divorced from the town centre. The chamber is just glad this issue is finally being taken seriously."

Monmouthshire council's cabinet were today to decide whether the plan is feasible but are being recommended by officers to approve it in principle.

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

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 Sudbroke cricket club and the proposed new supermarket - the council say 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 over £3.9 million of maintenance work was needed.