THE canteen at the former primary school at The Bryn is to become a post office and shop for the village.

Plans to change its use from the rural business centre into the new facility were discussed by the Monmouthshire county planning committee yesterday after the Free Press deadline.

But the scheme submitted by Rick Longford, economic development officer for Monmouthshire County Council, is not expected to meet any opposition, as the facilities will be welcomed by the local community, with so many rural post offices closing their doors.

The former village school was used to establish the Welsh-medium primary school, Ysgol Gymraeg y Fenni, and the numbers grew so quickly from the initial 25 to more than 100, and the pupils had to move into the former youth centre in Old Hereford Road, Abergavenny.

Their permanent home will be the former St David's Junior School, Mardy which is currently occupied by pupils and staff from the former Harold Road Junior School, whose premises are being altered to accommodate infants into the new Cantref Primary School.

When St David's School becomes vacant in July, renovations will be completed on the building to bring it up to Assembly standards, before Ysgol Gymraeg y Fenni pupils move in September 2007.