A PETITION to save Greenmeadow Community Farm from a £200,000 funding cut has collected more than 3,000 signatures in its first three days.

Gavin Davies, who set up the online petition, said the cuts would have a "devastating" effect on the popular attraction, which he said could not continue to operate solely on its profits.

The popular farm currently receives £300,000 in subsidies from Torfaen council, but now the local authority plans to slash that funding by two-thirds.

"There would be a massive impact if the farm went," Mr Davies said. "It plays a massive part in community life."

Mr Davies, who serves as chair on the Friends of Greenmeadow Community Farm, said the farm was "more than a tourist attraction" and played an important role in local life which was often overlooked.

He said: "The farm helps vulnerable people and people with disabilities. It also gives work experience to young people who are struggling.

"It helps people in a lot of ways you don't see."

He said the council's plans could mean a reduction in services at the farm, or cause it to close down altogether.

"By closing the farm or making it smaller, it's going to affect a lot of people," he added.

A Torfaen council group has suggested several ways in which the farm could continue to operate on the proposed smaller budget, including changes to the farm's staffing structure, which would save around £48,000.

Council documents said this would "undoubtedly" result in redundancies or redeployment.

Disposing of surplus land and using the money from the sale to reinvest in the farm will also be considered.

Mr Davies is a teacher at Llantarnam Primary School, and said his pupils enjoyed regular visits to Greenmeadow Community Farm – as did children from other schools.

He said the farm was also a popular place for parents to take their children, and he often took his family there.

On the petition's early success, Mr Davies said: "We've collected 3,000 signatures so far. I think that's really good but it could do a lot more.

"I hope the [upcoming] meeting will focus on what we can do as a community to help the farm survive."

The Friends of the Greenmeadow Community Farm group will host a public meeting at the farm on Thursday, March 28, 7.30pm.

For more information about their campaign to save the farm, the Friends group can be found on Facebook and can be contacted via email at: friendsofgcf@gmail.com