A LOCAL extreme sports entrepreneur says he's confident the regeneration of Cinderford's Northern Quarter will help the Forest of Dean become a magnet for cycling enthusiasts.

Steve Grindle, who is managing director of the Cinderford-based company, Raw Sports, said the past decade has already seen an explosion in the number of mountain and off-road bikers racing to the area to pursue their hobby.

The 47-year-old, father-of-two from Ruspidge believes that plans to redevelop the town's former coal mining sites will attract even more people, bringing new life and vitality to the community and landscape. He has joined the Cinderford Regeneration Board's Business Forum to advise on the proposed project.

"The area is becoming more and more established as a destination for biking; it offers fantastic amenities for people interested in the sport," said Steve.

"The Forest has huge potential as a leisure destination. The number of mountain bikers heading here every weekend is bringing a new energy to the area and helping to boost the local economy. We're beginning to see the Forest come back to life," he said.

As well as running Raw Sports, Steve is also involved in local and commercial property development and understands the wider appeal and benefits of the proposed Northern Quarter regeneration.

"By focusing on residential, educational, leisure and commercial development, this regeneration project has fantastic potential to create even more amenities for local people and those from further afield," he added.

Steve recently donated seven acres of land for a new state-of-the-art primary school to be built at St White's in Cinderford, which he attended as a boy. "I'm keen to give something back to the area," he explained.

Steve strongly supports the range of ecological measures included in the project to protect local wildlife and habitats: "This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, and it's a sustainable plan we can deliver while protecting the animals, plants and woodland that make this area so special," he said.

The proposed Northern Quarter regeneration will unlock more than £100m in investment to redevelop the former coalfield site and bring employment and opportunities to the district.