THE Forest Council will be urged to move quickly to buy the former Gloucestershire College site at Five Acres, despite calls to take a step back.

The authority’s Cabinet dismissed a suggestion by a backbench committee that a feasibility study be carried out first.

The proposed acquisition of the site for £1 from government agency Homes England will go before the full council for a decision tomorrow night.

The Cabinet member for development, Cllr Richard Leppington (UKIP, Bream), said any delay in the purchase could put plans for a “destination” leisure facility at risk.

The council’s strategic overview and scrutiny committee had raised concerns that the council could be saddled with business rates of £172,000 a year, if a proposed feasibility study came out against the development.

The committee recommended that the study, which is due to report back to the full council meeting in December, should be carried out before agreeing to buy the site.

Cllr Leppington said: “After due deliberation, Cabinet has decided we will not postpone buying the site.

“Business rates relief will lapse at the end of January. Were we to wait to full council in December it would have left the authority only about six weeks before we would be liable to start paying business rates.  

“Homes England want to accelerate the process – any delay on our part might force them to pursue another option.”

The proposal for a “state-of-the-art, destination leisure facility” has widespread support in the Berry Hill area and about 30 people attended last Thursday’s (October 11) meeting of the Cabinet.

But Cllr Leppington said the development would attract people from across the Forest and beyond.

He said: “This facility is intended to serve not only the Forest of Dean but to appeal to a wider audience in Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Monmouthshire.”

Cabinet member for environment Cllr Chris McFarling (Green, Newland and St Briavels) added: “It is truly an initiative for the 21st century not just for now but for future generations. This is a stunning opportunity and I hope we take it.”

The full council will be asked to approve the purchase of the land and to earmark £150,000 for a feasibility study and to make the site secure.