PRESSURE group Dean Forest Voice (DFV) has pledged to take the fight over Cinderford's Northern Quarter to Westminster and has called on Secretary of State Eric Pickles to put a stop on current development plans.

DFV's key arguments are that the development is an inappropriate use of Coalfields Regeneration money, the creation of a new college building is highly inadvisable in an area laced with mine shafts, and wildlife protection is not adequately addressed.

What's more, they say, the development could easily be resited in a less sensitive area without sequestering parts of Linear Park.

Writing to the Review about the protest action plan on behalf of DFV, spokesman Keith Morgan states his committee members have been involved in the proposals for the regeneration of Cinderford ever since their instigation in 2005.

"Our interest then was not in the regeneration of Cinderford itself, as we thought that this was a question for the people of Cinderford, but in any proposals that there may be to develop within the protected Statutory Forest.

"The initial proposals contained many innovative ideas for redevelopment within the town centre which would have transformed the town. The only proposal that involved the Northern Quarter was to extend the road, which ended at the Winner Garage, out onto the A4136. This made sense to us.

"However, the whole concept changed with the introduction of Coalfields Regeneration money. It was believed by the Local Authorities that the money had to be spent in redeveloping the pithead sites. This was a nonsense with regards to the Forest of Dean Coalfields, as no large scale coal mining had taken place for nearly 40 years and the areas occupied by the mines were re-afforested or used for other purposes.

"The Government Agency in charge at that time was English Partnerships (who preceded the Homes and Communities Agency). Dean Forest Voice went to see them in London and were informed by them that the Coafields money could be spent in the coalfield communities and not just at the pithead sites.

"This made sense to DFV.

"However the local authorities were not to be deterred and pursued their plans for the Cinderford Northern Quarter with an obstinancy that was bordering on breathtaking.

"It did not matter to them that much of the site was part of the Cinderford Linear Park which was created for public access and for wildlife. The District Council received Derelict Land Grant funding with a 'still active' condition for full public access for most of the developed site.

"It did not matter to them that the area concerned was Statutory Forest which is protected by law from development and/or sale.

"It did not matter to them that parts of the site are Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust Key Wildlife Sites.

"It did not matter to them that the area still contains vast reserves of coal which could prove of immense value to the country."

DFV is now planning a trip to London to lobby ministers about the situation.