CAMPAIGNERS hoping to buy a former school in Abergavenny and turn it into a community centre may have just eight days to secure the property.

Monmouthshire Council is put Park Street Primary School, together with the former Darenfelin Primary School in Clydach, up for sale at auction on June 9.

Park Street Primary, which shut in 2006, was to be sold last year but was taken off the market so Abergavenny Community Group Ltd could put together plans to turn it into a community hall.

Council cabinet member Councillor Bob Greenland said the group had not been able to do so and the council has had to remarket the school.

However he added the council was looking at a plan from within the group to use just part of the buiding for the community.

”Whilst its still scheduled to go to auction, we might in the next week consider whether there’s a real opportunity for the community to take on at least part of the building,” he said.

Abergavenny Community Group Ltd proposed to turn Park Street Primary into a community centre with a creche, workshops, drop-in cafe and luncheon club for pensioners.

But ACG was unsuccessful in a lottery bid for £800,000 and had failed to gain financial backing from Abergavenny Town Council.

It however remains committed to providing a community centre and Marion Pearce, secretary of ACG Ltd, said: “If it does go to action we will be there to bid.”

She added: “We are still talking to the local authority.”

The Victorian schoolhouses are expected to sell for between £300,000 and £350,000 at the auction taking place at the Angel Hotel, Cross Street, Abergavenny, at 7pm.

Public toilets in Goytre and Tintern will also be sold on behalf of the county council following a review of toilets.

They are among six that were put up for adoption by local council’s and were closed in April.

The detached ladies and gents toilets in Tintern are estimated to sell for between £7,500 and £10,000 and in Goytre for between £10,000 to £15,000.

Suggestions for possible use include an office or takeaway.