Concerns over funding deadline as new £11m leisure centre plans approved
New plans to provide a much-needed but smaller leisure centre in the Forest of Dean have been given the go-ahead amid concern over an upcoming deadline.
Councillors have given their approval so that the Forest of Dean District Council can finally “crack on and build” the new facilities at Five Acres near Coleford.
The project has faced several challenges since the £9.2m levelling-up funding was first granted in 2021. The council agreed to borrow an extra £1.8m to help save the scheme last year.
The deadline for spending the money has been extended until March 2026. Now the council has a new scheme to begin the works.
Councillors today (January 20) approved a new first phase for the project for the former Royal Forest of Dean College site off the Monmouth Road in Berry Hill.
The plans include refurbishing the Speedwell building to provide soft play, two party rooms and toilet facilities on the ground floor.
This first phase also includes two multi-use community rooms, a cycling exercise room and studio on the first floor with seven rooms for use by Hartpury College on the second floor.
The proposals include an extension of the Speedwell building which will include a café, kitchen, changing facilities for two teams, officials and associated toilets and shower facilities on the ground floor.
And the first floor will have an exercise studio and gym with changing rooms, toilets and showers.
The council intends to bring forward the previously approved sports hall during phase two.
Chairman Dave Wheeler (G, Newland and Sling) asked about the phasing of the works during the development management committee.
“This phasing of the planning permission has enabled the applicant to create a situation where they might build phase one and not phase two?”
Development manager Clive Reynolds said there is always a potential a second phase would not happen.
But he explained the phased approach allows the developer to “crack on and build, get on site within the timescale they’ve got and the finances they’ve currently got.”
A statement was read out at the meeting from Berry Hill councillors Tim Gwilliam and Jamie Elsmore who said the proposals put before planners were not what they set out to achieve and councillors would have to accept a compromise.
They said the redevelopment of the Five Acres site has been a key commitment of the council for a decade and an aspiration for the community for 15 years. And the Forest of Dean needs “quality” sports and leisure facilities.
“The loss of the old sports centre has caused lasting damage to local sports, arts and education facilities,” they said..
They said the council’s role in the relocation of Gloucestershire College to the Cinderford Northern Quarter and the impact it had on Five Acres was “a low point in our council’s history”.
“It is not what the community aspires to and may not meet every level we would wish to reach.
“We know people want a swimming pool. We had hoped for a revamped and improved Forest theatre.”
However, the two Berry Hill councillors said the community has worked with the council to “make things right and renew”.
Councillor John Francis (I, Longhope and Huntley) said during the debate that the committee was looking at a further reduction in the size of the facilities.
“We are also looking at the phased delivery of this,” he said. “It does ring a few alarm bells to me.
“If the project is not completed, what happens to funds which have been put in the pot to make it complete?”
Cllr Wheeler said it was a point he would need to raise elsewhere.
The committee voted to approve the proposals by 11 votes with one abstention.