By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
There’s frustration over a lack of a start date for a new £11m leisure centre amid disappointment it will be just “toilets, changing rooms and a soft play area and a cafe being built”.
Forest of Dean District Council recently appointed a new contractor Willmott Dixon to help deliver their regeneration project for the Five Acres site near Coleford.
Council chiefs agreed earlier this year to put an extra £1.8m towards the £9.2m scheme to avoid it becoming another debacle akin to that of the Cinderford Northern Quart project.
But frustration was aired at last week’s full council meeting when council chiefs could not commit to a date for construction work to finally begin.
Funding for the redevelopment was first secured as part of £20m awarded to the Forest of Dean under the Government’s Levelling Up scheme.
Berry Hill Councillor Jamie Elsmore (Progressive Independents) asked when the building would start at Five Acres during the meeting on July 24.
Finance chief Andrew Knott said they are hoping to get a “guaranteed price” from the contractor in October or November which is when the programme of works will be set out.
“It will be next year,” he said. “But I can’t say exactly when”.
Cllr Elsmore said it was frustrating. “We seem to be drifting from one year to the next with no firm commitment of when the building is going to start,” he said.
“We are celebrating extensions. We are moving onto another three year period where we’ve got an extension.
“The £17m that we thought we had a few years ago was going to significantly offer a lot more than what we are currently getting.
“I’m supposed to be grateful for the fact we’ve got £17m to actually build toilets, changing rooms and a soft play area and a cafe.
“We haven’t got the sports hall. We were never in a position to have a swimming pool.
“And we still can’t make a commitment on when this project can actually get underway.
“The public is growing tired.”
Property and projects cabinet member Sid Phelps (G, Lydbrook) said he is absolutely committed to the project and the Berry Hill councillors are briefed at every opportunity when something is changed.
“It’s disingenuous to imply I’m not absolutely committed to this project. I’m absolutely committed to this project.
“I’m sorry you don’t believe me. Maybe you just want to make a point to keep it on the boil.
“Point taken, it’s on the boil and it will not go off the boil. If it does you will be the first to know along with the other councillors, if things beyond our control happen.
“But you should know this is not an easy trick.
“I’m absolutely committed and so is the rest of the cabinet.”
Cllr Elsmore said he was “behind them 100 per cent” but the council must start delivering on its promises.