FRUSTRATED civic leaders in the Forest of Dean are calling for a public enquiry into the continuing delays over funding for a new college campus in Cinderford.

The last minute cancellation, on Monday this week, of official confirmation of government funding of the £2.2 million was the last straw for West Dean Parish Council.

Now the council, which is planning to take over the Five Acre site as a community facility when it falls vacant, has said ‘enough is enough’.

The council has written to MP Mark Harper, calling for a public enquiry into the ‘shambles’ and ‘five years of delays’.

Councillor Tim Gwillam said: “This beyond a joke. The have been delaying on this for so long without giving any reasons why.

“We are now calling for a public enquiry and our clerk will approach Mr Harper for his advice on how to progress this, whether it is at district or county council level.

“We need to have ownership of the Five Acres college site now, so that we can take steps to do the work that has to be done on it, using grant money that will be available.”

GFirst Local Enterprise Partnership and Forest of Dean District Council, both of which had promised a statement on Monday, said the delay had been caused by the Government.

Kate McCarthy marketing manager of GFirst LEP, said: “The delay is coming from Central Government. We are still waiting for them to make a statement."

Peter White deputy principal of Gloucestershire College said on Monday: “We are totally committed to this project and we are still confident that we will be able to welcome the first students as planned to the new campus in September 2018, unless something happens which throws the funding into question.

“If that happens, there are alternatives to be considered, depending on what the situation is.”