A NEWPORT City Council depot in Bettws is to be disposed of after no community groups have come forward to take on the building.

The Bettws Depot, in Lambourne Walk, has been vacant since September 2011 and could be sold by the council after Cllr Gail Giles, cabinet member for human resources and assets, declared it surplus yesterday.

The council has worked with various community groups who expressed an interest since the closure but no plans could be taken forward.

In November 2011, both the Harlequins Boxing Club and Monnow Youth Club expressed an interest but both gave high refurbishment costs as a reason not to proceed.

In October 2013, Synergy Wales expressed an interest but told the council in February they were unable to raise the finance to bring the building up to standard.

Newport City Council is currently storing surplus furniture at the depot.

Cllr Val Delahaye said: “This property has been empty now for three years and I suspect it is in bit of a state. I will never understand why we (the council) continue to refuse to rent properties to interested groups at a reasonable rent, if only until a buyer can be found.”

Cllr Charles Ferris said he would like to see the building given to Bettws in Bloom, which operates next door.

He added: “Surely it would be far better for the authority to give this redundant facility over to this most worthwhile of community groups rather than trying to wring a small return out of it.”