FOREST Theatre could be taken over by the community if Gloucestershire College commit to moving to Cinderford Northern Quarter.

According to a committee member of FANS (Five Acres Not for Sale), the college is days away from making the crucial decision which could see the theatre close.

Groups that use the threatre have received a letter from the college stating no more bookings will be taken after July next year. But Cllr Tim Gwilliam (Lab, Berry Hill) said the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) behind the Northern Quarter project has agreed to transfer the ownership and running of the site to the West Dean Parish Council and Forest of Dean District Council. The only catch is it’s subject to an element of housing being built on the site.

He said: “If this is the case then we will look to set up community trusts to run both the theatre and playing fields. It will be run for the community, by the community.

“I’ve been told Gloucestershire College are just days away from deciding if they want to move to Cinderford Northern Quarter and, as soon as they’ve committed, the HCA said it would transfer the site to the West Dean Parish Council and Forest of Dean District Council. It is not known how many houses will be built.

“The parish council certainly has lots of plans for the site and closing it isn’t one of them.”

Secretary of Lydbrook Band, Robert Morgan, who uses the theatre at least two times a year to host his band’s concerts, contacted the Review after receiving a letter from the college announcing bookings are no longer being taken after July 2017.

He said: “It will be ‘very sad’ for the Forest if the theatre is not taken on by another group.

“I can only presume, from reading local news reports, bookings are no longer being taken next July as a new college is being built on the Cinderford Northern Quarter. I fear the Five Acres area in general will be closed.

“I have used the theatre two or three times a year to host concerts for many years and will struggle to find another venue that accommodates a huge audience.

“Let’s hope all the users can get together and come up with some proposals for its future.”

In a letter to Mr Morgan, the theatre administrator, Jacqui Marfell said: “It is with great sadness that I have to inform you that there will be no more bookings taken after July 2017 for the Forest Theatre.

“It is one of the best theatres in the Forest of Dean and I can only hope that another organisation will take this lovely theatre on and make a success of it.”

The theatre, which is the second largest auditorium in Gloucestershire, is owned by Gloucestershire College who were unavailable for comment.

The venue plays host to professional artists and local performers as well as providing a platform for workshops, community groups and the Royal Forest of Dean Campus Theatre Company.