THE fightback against a proposal to move the Forest College from Five Acres to the so-called Northern Quarter development near Cinderford has kicked off with the formation of a steering group to lead the protests.

The group is to be known as FANS – Five Acres Not For Sale.

They will organise public protest and fund-raising events and plan to meet with officials from Gloucestershire College, the Homes and Communities Agency, the Regeneration Board and county and district councillors to discuss public worries and concerns.

In a statement they describe the project to close the college and the sports and leisure centre as an unnecessary upheaval being carried out at huge expense to the taxpayer at a time of national recession and austerity.

They describe the scheme as "unwanted" and propose alternatives to regenerate the college and upgrade the sports and leisure facilities.

The sterring group is to be chaired by Jamie Elsmore with Julia Sykes as vice-chairman, Jo Revill as secretary and Kay Thomas as treasurer.

The committee will co-operate fully with other interested organisations with similar aims such as local parish councils, Dean Forest Voice, district and county councillors educationists, sports clubs and environmentalists. They say meetings will be open to all members of the public. The group is described as "strictly non-party political."

The next public meeting has been arranged for June 12 at Berry Hill RFC (7.30pm) when updates and proposed actions will be discussed.