AN under-threat leisure centre and theatre must be kept open if hopes of developing the Five Acres site as a community, tourist and recreational hub are to be realised, parish councillors have warned.
West Dean Parish Council has welcomed the announcement of a referendum on February 15 on the Berry Hill, Christchurch and Edge End Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP), which includes proposals for Five Acres after Gloucestershire College moves to Cinderford’s Northern Quarter.
But it says the Forest of Dean Council must pledge to keep the site open after next April if those plans are to come to fruition, with the leisure centre and theatre currently at risk of closure from a lack of funding.
Parish councillors say that with “the threat to the future of the site so great”, it may even provide its own funding to help keep the centre operating in the short-term.
A statement by West Dean says: “A key part of the NDP is the community’s aspirations and the vision developed for the future of the Five Acres site currently occupied by Gloucestershire College and the leisure centre.
“The NDP provides a blueprint for an enhanced leisure and recreational site at the Gloucestershire College site, which will develop the theatre, sports fields and leisure centre into a major community, tourist and recreational destination.
“It is with huge regret that before these aspirations can begin development, the district council has allowed a situation to arise that may see the closure of the leisure facility in April 2018 due to a lack of funding.
“West Dean Parish Council remains convinced of the need for the site to be in public ownership, to try to achieve public aspirations, to develop the site into a public and tourism based destination leisure facility, which will include small business and social enterprises, and to keep the theatre, enjoyed and used by so many, not only open but also enhanced and made readily available. Five Acres is the site for such a development.”
The parish council said it was delighted with news of the referendum, and wanted to re-emphasise its support of community aspirations to develop the site, which had been reached after “extensive consultation”, and fieldwork by the Berry Hill and Christchurch communities.
But having been “strongly encouraged” by the backing of the Homes and Communities Agency following a three-day intensive fact finding visit to the college, a study conducted by the Locality government agency, and the district council’s scrutiny committee report into the future of the site, the threat of closure had to be lifted until a full development plan was in place.
“West Dean Parish Council has decided that, with the need so clearly defined and the threat to the future of the site so great, it may be prepared to assist the district council financially to keep the leisure centre open until such a time that the results of the much-needed Forest leisure strategy are determined.
“The site must be kept open until a full development plan, based on the community’s aspirations and on the evidence provided in the NDP and in the supporting studies by Locality, the Homes and Communities Agency and the Forest of Dean District Council, is in place, and the continuity of leisure services at the Five Acres site can be guaranteed.”
Forest Council leader Cllr Tim Gwilliam, (Forest First, Berry Hill), said: “The district council recognises the significant benefits that the provision of sport and leisure facilities and activities can bring to the physical, social and economic health of our communities.
“With this in mind, we have started a review of all existing facilities to develop a modern and exciting vision for the future.”