OVERNORS are forging ahead with plans for a new college in Cinderford in 2015 by appointing a firm of architects.

Gloucester-based Roberts Limbrick has been appointed to develop plans for a further education college to replace the one at Five Acres, a sixth form with Dene Magna and a shared social hub.

Site principal Lynne Craig said: "We are moving into an exciting phase of planning for the new campus and I look forward to hearing the feedback from our stakeholders which will help shape the new campus and the future of FE in the Forest of Dean."

Meanwhile Cinderford Town Council hit out at what they claimed was a steady stream of misinformation about the impact of the Northern Quarter project after they were given an end-of-year progress report by regeneration officer Louise Scammell.

She said one application for a bat roost had been withdrawn because it was in the wrong place, the judicial review would probably be held in May and contractors were awaiting licences from Natural England to demolish the remaining three out of five buildings on the site. Councillors insisted wildlife would be protected.