AROUND 50 people agreed to a clause which will allow the community to manage the Forest Theatre and rescue it from possible closure.

A revised version of the Berry Hill, Christchurch and Edge End Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) will go to a referendum in the next few months.

Residents who attended the consultation agreed to West Dean Parish Council changing its NDP policy on the Five Acres site, to “allowing an element of housing”, thus enabling the transfer of ownership of the entire site back to the community.

The Review reported last week the college would not be taking any more bookings for the Forest Theatre after July next year, and the theatre could close if Gloucestershire College Forest of Dean Campus agrees to relocate to the Cinderford Northern Quarter.

Chairman of West Dean Parish Council’s NDP, Cllr Tim Gwilliam (Lab, Berry Hill) said: “The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) behind the Northern Quarter project has agreed to transfer the ownership and running of the site to the West Dean Parish Council and Forest of Dean District Council. The only catch is it’s subject to an element of housing being built on the site.

“The community who attended our consultation the other week agreed to this.

“The proposals would see the development of a small number of starter homes, aimed at getting people and families with, firstly, strong West Dean and then Forest of Dean connections on the housing ladder, built on the site.

“We have a memorandum of understanding with the district council which confirms our agreement that the site will be developed in line with the communities’ wishes and the NDP. Both partners are fully committed to securing the aspirations of the community.

“Our NDP has now been amended to permit an element of housing on the site under these strictly controlled conditions to enable the rest of the site, including the leisure centre, the sports fields, and the theatre to be transferred, retained, protected and enhanced and the old college buildings to be developed as a tourist and community hub.

“The site will be returned to community ownership and the enhancement proposals ratified by the community.”