Let me start by thanking the editor for providing me the opportunity to correct the rumours and speculation relating to our Forest of Dean campus in last week's edition of this newspaper.

On behalf of Lakers School I need to make it abundantly clear that they own their own land, which in fact constitutes the bulk of the site, and have absolutely no plans to move or sell any of their land.

It is also clear that I need to repeat my many comments to the press and our stakeholders relating to the future of our Forest of Dean campus. Before I do so, it is worth remembering that Gloucestershire College was asked by our funding body to rescue the Forest of Dean College which was on the brink of insolvency. We did so and over the summer invested over £500K attempting to bring a neglected estate up to a minimum standard and also investing in much needed information technology equipment.

Now let me address the various rumours from "reputable sources" which were reported in this publication last week.

The College, as I announced last February, did sell the Forest of Dean Campus to the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), a Government Agency, with an option to purchase back the campus at the same price any time in the next five years if my board choose to redevelop on the existing site.

The Board, having considered a number of alternatives, has chosen to explore moving to the Northern Quarter as its preferred option or alternatively staying and developing the Coleford campus as its second option.

It is extremely important to understand that we are currently only exploring options, have no finances in place and are many years away from achieving a solution to our inherited, ageing and 'unfit-for-purpose' campus.

Let us consider the facts. At present, we don't know whether or not the Area Action Plan (AAP) for the Northern Quarter will be approved or rejected. If it is rejected out of hand, the option to relocate disappears. If the AAP is approved there is then the small matter of designing a road, getting planning permission and then building the road, which I anticipate will take at least two years to complete.

During this time the College would need to undertake a detailed feasibility study to establish space and curriculum requirements and likely build costs, a substantial piece of work, before even starting to attempt to raise finance and political support for the project.

In summary then, the issues around the Leisure Centre, swimming pool and rugby pitches will only need to be considered if we decide to move and if we do, it will be a number of years away. At that point the HCA, the site owners, the District Council, Lakers School and ourselves will then be able to consult with Stakeholders to resolve any problems resulting from our move, if it ever transpires.

I am currently much more concerned with creating an outstanding College in Coleford, which changes lives and provides pathways to Higher Education and employment and of which our students and the community can be proud.

– Dr Greg Smith,

Principal

Gloucestershire College