WORK will begin on Coleford's new community enterprise centre later this month, despite continued opposition from some local people.

Moss Construction will begin work at the Old Station Way car park on April 20 and the centre should be complete by early next year.

The ground floor will house a new library and day care centre for adults with learning disabilities. The first floor will be home to a new youth centre, which will have a hall available for community use.

The Business Enterprise Centre will also be located on the first floor with secretarial, photocopying and ICT support available for small businesses.

The plans and vision for the centre were on display at the Coleford Festival of Transport on Monday.

The current library and youth centre will remain operational while the new building is under construction.

Cllr Peter Chamberlain, chair of the Coleford Area Partnership and county councillor for Coleford, said: "This project lays down a national marker in that it brings together so many different services under one roof.

"The partnership working has been terrific and it has needed to be – everyone has had to be prepared to make compromises and work things through together.

"I would like to thank all the bodies that have made this happen – South West Regional Development Agency, the Coleford Area Partnership, the county council, the district council and Coleford Town Council, but particularly two members of the Partnership, Janet Marrott and Marilyn Cox, who have worked so diligently for 12 years to make this project a reality."