THE former tourist information centre in Abergavenny could get a new lease of life as a tea room.

The building, which is next to the Bus Station on Monmouth Road, served as the town’s tourist information centre until it was relocated 15 months ago to the nearby Tithe Barn on Monk Street after 23 years.

The council has asked its own planning officers for permission to change the use of the building to allow it to be used as a tea room.

Plans published on Monmouthshire council’s planning portal say that the Victorian Tea Rooms, which is currently based on Frogmore Street, was successful in its bid for the new lease.

The business has been trading for two years and is looking for bigger premises due to its success.

In its application, the agent believes that the tea rooms offer a different experience to other businesses in the town and will provide a warm friendly and welcoming environment for customers to meet.

It adds that the local economy will benefit from a tea room being located on the eastern edge of town and that customers will stop there before, during or after visiting the town.

If approved, it would create two part-time jobs and open in December, seven-days-a-week. If approved, it would and open in December.

The centre closed after the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, which ran the centre in partnership with Monmouthshire council, approved the closure last year as part of a bid to help save £650,000 over the following two years.

Monmouthshire council was contributing £35,000-a-year towards the service on top of utilities and maintenance but could not make up the shortfall.

The service had faced an uncertain future while the authority held talks with Abergavenny Town Council, St Mary’s Priory Development Trust and the county council to find an alternative option.

The town council agreed to contribute £11,500 towards the service for that year and The Priory House Company stepped in to offer the use of space in The Tithe Barn, next to St Mary’s Priory Church on Monk Street.

Cllr Phil Murphy previously said that a new business will benefit the area and create a long term sustainable income which will be directed towards the council’s front line services.