THE TWO embattled sides in the on-going dispute over the future of the Five Acres college and leisure complex have locked horns in a new war of words.

The FANS (Five Acres Not for Sale) group released a statement this week reiterating their support for the old complex, and, following a presentation to them by professor Laurie Moseley – a 'highly regarded statistics professor' – they have extended their campaigning to include the Forest of Dean District Council's 'Core Strategy', on which they pour scorn over the future plans for the area, which they describe as the 'urbanization of parts of the Forest.'

The FANS statement goes on to raise concerns about the company advising the Council on the regeneration aspects of the Strategy – the Gloucester Urban Regeneration Company – due to the fact that this company is Chaired by Greg Smith, Principal of Five Acres College. Julia Sykes, Vice-Chair of FANS said: "This has to be a conflict of interest."

FANS are hoping to use Professor Moseley's expertise to stop the closure of Five Acres, and the subsequent sale of the land to property developers which they believe would also throw doubt over the future of the leisure centre.

Countering all this, however, is a statement from the Forest of Dean District Council Labour Group, which aims to set out in full the causes of the current dilemma facing the future of Five Acres. They say: "The Labour Group understands the concerns of Coleford and district residents in general and the FANS group in particular about the future of the college site at Five Acres."

They continued: "However, the Labour Group feels that the protest led by FANS is based on a misunderstanding of the realities being faced by the Forest of Dean. When the Royal Forest of Dean College became insolvent, its closure was imminent. It was saved by being taken over by Gloucestershire College. As part of the agreement, Gloucestershire College sold its land holding and buildings at Five Acres to the Home and Communities Agency (HCA). the college received a capital receipt and now leases back these assets. Five Acres college site has been sold."

Regarding the future development at the Northern Quarter site near Steam Mills, the Labour Group throw their weight behind the redevelopment of the Five Acres which they say will "save the joint user community facilities at Five Acres, lead to improved further education facilities for the Forest of Dean and provide new housing in the Berry Hill/Five Acres area better related to the existing community."

Appealing for all those involved in the row to agree – including the Homes and Communities Agency, Gloucestershire College, Lakers School, Berry Hill Primary School and Berry Hill Rugby Club – the Labour Group says that it "would be impossible to force the hand of any of these participants if the final outcome was not in their interests."

They conclude: "Premature protests and the intervention of single interest groups, however well intentioned, could waste a golden opportunity for the whole of the Forest of Dean and lead to the permanent loss of further education in the forest."

Countering this, however is the support being given to the FANS group by West Dean Parish Council – described as 'the largest Parish in the country' – which gave them its unequivocal backing at their meeting last Wednesday night. Jamie Elsmore, Chair of FANS said: "The support of West Dean is another great boost to our cause, following the recent successful march."