PEOPLE are being urged to push the new Town Council into taking more responsibility for saving the threatened Naas Lane Community Centre.

Time is running out for the centre with only a matter of weeks left to express an interest in the site, earmarked for County Council Youth Service cuts.

Town Councillor Derek Biddle collected 204 signatures on a petition to save the centre on Saturday but says what is needed is 'a responsible body' to undertake the lease for the many organisations using the building, among them the Forest Sea Cadets and other youth interests.

"Housing development infrastructure funding for youth services may also be reassigned or lost unless there is a clear message for the community on how it should be used," said Cllr Biddle.

He urges local people to take advantage of Monday's 15-minute slot for a public address to the newly-elected Town Council to give more urgency to the case for rescuing the Centre.

Gloucestershire County Council has called for expressions of interest on the Centre site with a closing date of June 30, and in the meantime users have been given notice it is to be closed.

"Many of them want to know why they or the people of Lydney have not been consulted on the future of the site," said Cllr Biddle.

The Review has also asked for transparency on the future of the Naas Lane Centre and site but requests to the outgoing council remained unanswered.