THE dream of revitalising the historic Lydney Harbour area has moved a step closer to reality thanks to a £2.1m Government grant.

Destination Lydney Harbour has been boosted by the Government’s Coastal Communities Fund, which envisages the creation of up to 270 jobs.

The project aims to help enhance routes into the town by car, train, bike and boat, to develop the area as a tourist destination.

Project leader Wendy Jackson, the Forest of Dean Council’s regeneration manager, reacted to news of the grant with delight.

“I’m beyond excited – courage and tenacity has paid off for the team,” she said.

“We started plans for this three years ago and it just shows if you stick at something and keep up the momentum, you will get you somewhere.

“There are lots of strands of different projects that this investment will be used for. We want to complement other projects in the town, like Lydney Links, which improves cycle routes.

“The road leading to the harbour needs better accessibility for not just visitors, but workers at the nearby businesses and factories.

“A change we’re excited to kickstart is a desilting exercise for the canal to increase waterborne tourism, with boats being able to moor at the harbour.”

There are also plans to improve the greenery to enhance the harbour and make it a welcoming place, along with new toilets and a small cafe.

Forest Council leader Tim Gwilliam added: “This has been a project that has been on-going since I have been here. Wendy Jackson and her team have done so much work and kept getting knocked back.”

And Forest of Dean MP Mark Harper said: “I am really pleased that Lydney is to receive £2.1m of taxpayers’ money from the Government’s Coastal Communities Fund.”

District council chairman James Bevan, the member for Lydney East, described it as “excellent news,” but cautioned that it was only a start and a lot more investment would be needed.

Severn and Wye Valley Smokery business owner Mr Richard Cook has already indicated he wants to move the main part of his company, which supplies fish to the Royal Family, from Westbury-on-Severn to Lydney Harbour.

And Lydney councillor Alan Preest said: “I am absolutely over the moon with this grant. It is exciting news and we are talking about that awful road being sorted out (to the harbour), we are talking about the whole area of the docks being re-generated.

“This is not just for Lydney, it is for the whole of the Forest of Dean. We are the gateway to the Forest.

“The potential is amazing, the economic potential for Richard Cook, the tourism potential, the knock-on effect for Lydney, for other tourism providers is great.

Cllr Richard Leppington, Cabinet member for regeneration, said: “I cannot compliment Mrs Jackson highly enough.

“We got knocked back the first time we tried this and then we were told we were put on the reserve list.

“Then the Government came back and we have got it. It’s a boost for Lydney because, up until now, there’s been a belief that everything in terms of investment goes to Cinderford.

“It’s the start of a lot of good things for Lydney.”