THERE are fresh hopes that St Paul’s Church can be brought back into use after nearly six years of inactivity have come to light.

The Vale council have said that bringing the iconic St Paul’s building back to life is a ‘key challenge’ of ‘high importance’., with The aim being is to have a plan in place before the end of this financial year.

The reuse of the building is one of the goals that the local authority has set itself as a part of its new corporate plan.

The announcement was made at the council’s environment and regeneration scrutiny committee this week.

The church has been left abandoned since Penarth Amateur Boxing Club was forced to leave the premises on health and safety grounds in January 2011.

Both the boxing club and Penarth Gymnastics Club had hoped to move back into the site in 2012 when £250,000 was set aside to restore the building but the work was not carried out following an administration change at the Vale council.

In October 2014, the council appointed the estate agents Savills to find a new occupier, saying that they were looking to use the building for community purposes or possibly as an opportunity for a mixed use scheme – flats and business units.

In 2015 plans to create a shared multi-purpose fitness centre were been rejected.

The proposals for the installation of a gym, a dance and fitness studio, an auditorium, and a cafe were deemed as ‘not viable’ by the Vale.

News that the church looks set to be made a priority by the Vale council was welcomed by Penarth Conservative town councillor Anthony Ernest who said that it was crucial the building be put back to good use in the community.

Penarth Conservative town councillor and former Vale cabinet member for leisure and tourism Anthony Ernest said he would welcome the reuse of the church. 

He said: "As a former cabinet member responsible for community centres I was anxious to see St Paul's brought back into a good state for clubs to use and for use by the wider community."

A Vale council spokesman said: "The conclusion and development of a scheme for the St Paul's site in Penarth continues to remain a challenge.

"A legal strategy came to resolution in October 2016 and a new board meeting has been arranged to determine the future of the property.

"This means that the St Paul's project has been identified as being of high importance and so will require extra focus for the remainder of this financial year," he said.