THE £3.3 million regeneration programme for Cinderford has achieved a "significant" impact on the town, states a major independent report.
Regeneration experts Enterprise plc also praise the Cinderford Partnership, set up in 1955 to spend £1.2million of the government's single regeneration budget on the town
It had been successful in levering a further £2.1million from other public and private sector sources, the report states.
Among regeneration achievements are creating or safeguarding 75 jobs, advising and supporting the development of 1,000 young people, help in starting 16 new businesses, creating new business space and reclaiming 25 hectares of land.
"Over the same five year period there has been a 4.6 per cent fall in unemployment and rising educational attainment in the town," says the report.
But it says there is still a long way to go before underlying problems are fully overcome – the town remained in the top 10 most deprived areas in Gloucestershire.
Owen Davies, the Forest of Dean District Council, regeneration officer, said: "This is an excellent report which provides a valuable evaluation of the achievements of the Cinderford regeneration programme over the last five years.
"It identifies both the strengths and weaknesses, but more importantly provides foundations for future investment in the town."