A LETTER has gone from the Forest to the Secretary of State for Communities asking him to take action to remove the 'impasse' blocking a flagship community project which could have important economic benefits.

West Dean Parish Council is heading the project that would create a community and tourist 'hub' on the site of the Forest campus of Gloucestershire College at Five Acres, Berry Hill.

The site was bought by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) as part of plans to move the college to the Northern Quarter in Cinderford.

The parish council says that ownership of the the 4.7-hectare site is crucial if the project is have any chance of success.

In a letter to Secretary of State Greg Clarke the council asked him to allow the HCA to transfer ownership to a charitable trust.

The project developed from the local campaign to retain facilities including three sports fields, tennis courts, leisure centre and the second largest theatre in Gloucestershire.

The council claims development restrictions on the site means there is little prospect of the government body seeing any return on its investment but while the agency retains ownership the project is stuck in limbo.

While the site has been registered as a 'community asset' – giving the council some powers to bid if the site comes up for sale – it "does not give us the sort of rights to the land which will impress a potential grant awarder."

The letter to Mr Clarke from parish clerk Dave Kent states: "What we seek now to overcome this impasse is the transfer of the land by the HCA to an appropriate charitable trust set up by the parish council.

"We believe that this is the only way in which the project can move forward.

"This will resolve the continuing uncertainty about the future of the site and enable this community asset to generate new opportunities.

"To that end we would like to ask you to use your powers to arrange the transfer of the 4.7ha Gloucestershire College land at Five Acres."

A spokeswoman for the Department of Communties and Local Government, said: "The Homes and Communities Agency is in regular contact with West Dean Parish Council, and the existing college on the Five Acres site, to help support any future plans.