CONTROVERSIAL work to clear the land for a multi million pound ‘spine road’ to serve the former Northern United Colliery site has started.

A spokesperson for the Forest of Dean District Council said: “Contractors have started to prepare the ground at the former mining area ready for construction of the access road.

“These works will kick start a regeneration scheme set to unlock £100m of investment into the area, creating 1,000 new jobs and around 200 new homes for the local community.

“The Forest of Dean District Council approved the Homes and Communities Agency’s planning application to build a new access road, business space, education campus and homes in November 2014.”

David Warburton, Head of Area at the Homes and Communities Agency, said: “We’re preparing the ground for what is a once a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the community at Cinderford and the Forest of Dean. What we’re creating will bring long term employment, amenities and opportunities for local people and businesses, in a beautiful forest setting.”

Chairman of the Cinderford Regeneration Board, Cllr Graham Morgan, added: “It’s great to see contractors hard at work in the Northern Quarter. We have been pushing for this new road in Cinderford for many years. Not only will it open the site for new investment, it will help to divert traffic away from Steam Mills when completed.”

Cllr Patrick Molyneux, leader of the district council said: “The start of the works for the access road is a significant leap forward for our regeneration plans in Cinderford. Our painstaking efforts to protect the biodiversity of the site before this development began, stands us in good stead in environmental terms for many years to come.”

Cllr Will Windsor-Clive, Cabinet member for fire, planning and infrastructure at Gloucestershire County Council said: “The new spine road is a key element of the overall project and we’re committed to making sure it’s built in a sensitive and sustainable manner. We’re very excited to see the preparation work for construction of phase one begin.”

Clearing work is set to continue at the site, just off Newtown Road, for approximately six weeks, with work on the first phase of the access road expected to start in early 2016.

The project has been the subject of opposition from many areas, particularly from environmental pressure groups, who dragged the case through several court appearances.

This brings to a close 12 years of stop-start actions over the plans for the site, which is set to house a college, commercial and business properties, and domestic housing.