A FORMER outdoor adventure centre in Torfaen is to be sold because it is no longer viable as a business.

Pwll Ddu Adventure Centre, near Blaenavon was built in 1940 with money from local miners and used as a community centre and village hall before becoming an adventure/outbound centre run by Gloucestershire council.

Gloucestershire council said the centre was one of three in its ownership that needed substantial investment for maintenance, costing £750,000 between them and decided it is not a viable business in the long-term.

Following a review by the council, officers recommended selling it as a five-bedroom home because it would not be of interest to alternative providers in the current market.The now-empty centre lies just off the Abergavenny Road which leads to Blaenavon and close to the Lamb and Fox Inn, on half an acre of land which is surrounded by steel fencing. It catered for young people enabling them to take part in sporting activities until its closure last year.

Local historian, Chris Barber said the building is one of only two that remains of the former village of Pwll Ddu, the other being the Lamb and Fox Inn and became an outdoor centre in the 60s.

He said: "It’s best use is an outdoor centre for walkers and cavers but sadly, there is a decline for such centres in the current climate."

The single-storey detached building comprises of a reception area, office, shower block, lounge and five bedrooms.

It is being sold by agents Foy Williams of Blaenavon on behalf of Gloucestershire council for an asking price of £175,000.