NEARLY 5,000 people have signed a petition calling for the main building at Caerleon campus to be listed as a historic building.

The online petition will ask Cadw, the body that looks after historic monuments and buildings in Wales, to give the iconic building a Grade II-Listing to save it from demolition.

The Argus has previously reported the concerns of people living in Caerleon around the potential impact of development at the University of South Wales (USW) campus- which could see between 200 to 400 new homes built.

The petition’s founder, Tom Campbell of Cardiff, told supporters that the iconic building is under threat of being demolished if it is not deemed ‘economically viable’ by the people who wish to develop on the site after the campus closes in July.

He added: “The beautiful building is over 100 years old and is rich with local history.

“As I saw at the public meeting with local councillors and representatives from the university, not one person that calls Caerleon home wants to see the building demolished in pursuit of money and at the expense of local people.

“We urge Cadw to make the main building a Grade II listed building to help preserve some of Caerleon’s heritage. A community needs more than endless housing-it also needs a sense of history.”

Among the 4,785 supporters is Barbara Cornwall of Newport who said the building ‘can and should be used for the community to preserve this lovely building.’

Eric Hester, of Pontypool, believes the building should always remain a centre of education and preferably as a university. Nicola Stringfellow, of Newport, commented on the buildings elaborate interior and large heavy doors that match the architecture of the indoor market and Newport city centre. She added: “This building is part of Newport and belongs to Newport.”

Supporters claim the building is a ‘jewel in Newport’s crown’ and ‘a wonderful example of Victorian architecture.’

A month-long public consultation has taken place to enable residents to have their say on the future of the campus.

A University of South Wales spokesman said: “ The old college building will no longer be needed by the university, so this is a question of what happens after our staff and remaining students leave the site this summer.”

“Whether the old college building is listed or not, we want to explore if there’s a viable alternative use for it. We hope it can find a use in the future, because it would be a real shame if it were left derelict. That’s a decision in the context of the planning process and the university’s legal obligation to get best value so that we can develop in the Newport city centre for future students.

"Listing isn’t up to the university: it’s a matter for CADW whether the main building is listed. All we would expect is that they would apply the criteria objectively and consistently, noting that they have declined to list it a number of times.”

The 32-acre site will be vacated by the USW on July 31.

An outline planning application for the site is expected to be made later this year.

To view the petition visit change.org/p/cadw-make-the-historic-main-building-in-caerleon-campus-a-grade-ii-listed-building-save-it-from-demolition