ABERGAVENNY'S library, one stop shop and tourist information centre could be rehoused at a single location if plans to create so-called 'community hubs' are given the green light.

With the latest plans under discussion MCC?has also confirmed that a proposal for a long-promised purpose built library on the former cattle market site in Abergavenny was no longer an option - although the money allocated for the scheme Could still be used within the area as part of the community hub project.

The controversial proposals were discussed by members of the Bryn y Cwm area committee ahead of Monmouthshire County Council's annual budget meeting which will be held today (Thursday) and after considering a report by MCC's Head of Operations Roger Hoggins members agreed that, if the plans were to go ahead Abergavenny would be the town with the biggest problem merging its tourist information centre, one stop shop and library service due to their locations.

Mr Hoggins told the committee and members of the public in attendance that, if the proposal was approved, MCC would be considering three locations for the hub within the town centre.

The first location, strongly supported by Councillor Douglas Edwards who chairs the Bryn y Cwm Area Committee, was Abergavenny Town Hall - which is presently home to the town's one shop, council offices and the Borough Theatre

While this would involve major structural changes to a building with an 'already complicated layout' it was generally agreed that it would be the best location in terms of accessibility.

Councillor Giles Howard, however, remained sceptical, questioning how it would be possible to fit a library into the town hall.

But Mr Hoggins said that, with a complete overhaul of the current building, it would be possible, and added that MCC would be working with architects to see if the plan would work.

Despite these assurances, Matthew Plumb, Chairman of Friends of the Abergavenny Library Service, still questioned whether the town hall would be big enough, and said he felt the proposal would not do justice to the service and that the library would be less accessible on market days.

Mr Plumb said he favoured the second proposed location - the former Richards store building in Frogmore Street - which offered plenty of space for all the services, with room to spare for offices and other activities.

He demonstrated this with a detailed layout chart provided by former architect and chairman of the Abergavenny Development Forum, David Haswell, who has been working with the Friends group.

While some people felt this second option was not in the ideal location Mr Plumb disagreed.

Following the meeting he told the Chronicle, "People from across the area can get the bus to Abergavenny, jump off the bus and jump right into the library if it were at Richards.

"Add that to the extra space it will bring and it seems to me that this has to be the best option."

The final proposed location was the old Farm Foods building, also in Frogmore Street, but this was deemed the least likely in terms of both location and size.

Councillor Simon Howarth asked the meeting if the proposal for a new library in Abergaveny was still being considered.

Mr Hoggins confirmed that a new-build was basically no longer an option, but that the money originally planned for the development of £3.2 million would remain available for the Bryn y Cwm area, and therefore a proportion of it could be used as part of any community hub scheme in Abergavenny.

Now MCC is set to make an overall decision on the idea of community hubs and, if this is successful, it will be consulting planners and architects to work out the best solution for Abergavenny.