A COMMUNITY group is hoping to turn a closed community centre on a Newport estate into a facility for families.

Bettws Communities First Partnership is working on a bid to the council to set up a family centre at the Millbrook Community Centre.

The council has decided to dispose of the centre after it was unable to fund repairs to the building’s heating system.

Mark Price, chairman of the partnership board, said the centre wants to work with seven to 14 year olds who find making the transition between primary and secondary school difficult.

The centre, if it took off, could offer day-care services, breakfast clubs, after-school clubs and literacy and numeracy programmes, among other services.

Children would be identified through local schools. Mr Price said the service could be provided for between £40,000 to £50,000.

He said it would be down to negotiation as to whether it bought or sold the centre from Newport council, and would be making applications to groups such as Children in Need for the funds.

The partnership, which is looking to work with local schools and the current management committee of Millbrook Community Centre, will look to make proposals to the council next month.

A recent council report said that the council was unable to fund £40,000 worth of vital electrical and heating system repairs that the building needed.

It had been closed in November 2009 after the building’s boiler was condemned.

Cabinet member for resources Peter Davies agreed to declare the centre surplus to the council’s requirements and approved the disposal on terms to be agreed by Newport’s legal team.