THE Forest Council has issued a challenge to South West RDA chief executive Jane Henderson: come and explain face to face why you have axed promised cash for our town centre projects.

In turn, says Patrick Molyneux, the council's cabinet member for economic regeneration, we will show you exactly why these schemes are vital for our community.

The challenge follows widespread dismay as the government axe fell this week on promised development cash for projects in Cinderford and Newent.

Government cuts of £26 million from the South West Regional Development Agency's (RDA) budget over the next two years have led to the projects, worth £3.3 million, being scrapped. 

In a letter Jane Henderson said the plans to invest in the town centres of Newent and Cinderford "could no longer be treated as a priority". 

The recession has resulted in a reduction of at least £30 million from the value of receipts from sales of the RDA's development assets while the Government's need for funding elsewhere has seen a further £26 million cut.

The decision means the RDA  is not only going back on the agreement to pay nearly £1.4 million towards Cinderford's regeneration but also £500,000 towards the project in Newent losing £100,000 that has already been spent over six years on consultation and planning on the Newent Town Centre project.

The cut in Cinderford will also mean matched funding of £1.4 million being lost from the Tesco store if that were granted planning permission.

Mr Molyneux said the council felt 'bitter and dismayed' by the RDA's action which dismissed the schemes as 'public round enhancements' when they were in fact vital for both communities. In Cinderford the central works would be linked to the bigger Northern Arc development.

"What they don't realise is the two go together – we cannot attract jobs into the area without providing a welcoming town centre."

Forest MP Mark Harper said: "Government budg­et cuts put Newent's and Cinderford's regeneration at risk.

"These schemes were of great benefit to the towns. Despite strong lobbying from the Forest the RDA has axed the projects. This is a real blow to the Forest of Dean."