A COMMUNITY space in Monmouthshire has received a £50,000 grant to support its development within the community.

Chepstow Drill Hall is one of two projects in Gwent to have received financial backing from the Big Lottery Fund.

Elsewhere in Ebbw Vale, Gwent Wildlife Trust received £49,435 to develop their plans for the renovation of a former pump house.

The money from the £9 million Community Asset Transfer 2 Programme (CAT2) aims to provide both capital and revenue funding to support the transfer of assets to community ownership.

The initial grants will help the schemes develop their ideas before being invited to the second stage of funding, with the aim of securing grants of between £300,000 and £1.15 million.

At the Drill Hall there are plans to extend and enhance the venue to create a sustainable arts and community centre.

The project will also provide additional meeting space, studio, bar, storage and kitchen space to cater for activities and private functions.

Town councillor Ned Heywood, chair of the hall’s volunteering management committee, said: “We’re delighted and excited at the prospect of developing an arts centre.

"People coming to the venue will have a chance to get involved rather than just watching performances.

"It will enable us to really extend its use to the community by making it a better venue for birthday parties and wedding receptions."

He added: "We’ve been working on it for three years, it’s always been a long-term goal but there's still a long way to go."

John Rose, Wales director of the Big Lottery Fund, said: “This programme is helping Welsh communities to become stronger and more sustainable by assisting them to obtain and develop assets and improve where they live. By helping to transfer assets to enterprising organisations that actively involve and benefit the communities they serve, we are ultimately helping more people to benefit from their local community assets and also generating local income and employment.

“Money from the CAT2 programme is being used to help community groups to regenerate and reinvigorate the assets and develop manage and sustain them to improve their livelihoods and neighbourhoods. Through this programme, groups will be encouraged to use the asset to generate multiple income streams and provide quality services and amenities.”