Frustration over lack of transparency in regeneration project review

There are concerns over a lack of openness and transparency surrounding a review into a £100m regeneration project in Gloucestershire.

Forest of Dean District Council leaders agreed earlier this year to host meetings to review the Cinderford Northern Quarter regeneration project.

The redevelopment had originally been planned to bring 1,200 jobs, 195 homes and a new college campus.

The first stage of the project, which includes the first phase of a new road and a new campus for Gloucestershire College, was completed in 2018 but construction work for the second phase has not yet begun.

Now a scrutiny inquiry into the Cinderford Northern Quarter is under way but Green Party councillors say official documents are being kept from the public which suggest the regeneration project is unviable.

Councillor Andy Moore (Green, Pillowell) said: “It came as a great disappointment when I recently learned that the information pack for the scrutiny inquiry is not being made public.

“The pack includes the written submissions received from organisations and members of the public, some of whom will not be attending the inquiry in person.

“It is important that the strategic overview and scrutiny (SOSC) are given access to all relevant information about the Cinderford Northern Quarter.

“At the SOSC meeting on January 7 this year, Cllr Nicky Packer (Green, Newnham) mentioned that the task group had been told about a 2014 viability appraisal that found that ‘there was a significant negative land value that would make the scheme unviable’.

“She also mentioned a 2019 review of the scheme viability appraisal which ‘highlighted that there are significant risks associated with developing the Cinderford Northern Quarter’.

“I understand that there may be reasons why these appraisals are not made public, but it seems to me bizarre for the SOSC to make recommendations without having sight of such relevant information.”

Cllr Moore also said that the SOSC have been emailed an overview of the Cinderford Northern Quarter Scheme.

“This was a draft document put forward by the task group chair to further the deliberations of the task group and was reviewed by council officers, who provided comments.

“It is disappointing that this document has not been made public.”

A council spokesperson said the inquiry is an information gathering exercise, rather than a statutory meeting whereby an agenda would be published.

They say a report setting out the findings of the inquiry and recommendations will be drafted when the inquiry has gathered the necessary evidence.

“There is no firm date fixed at this stage but the agenda will be published on the council’s website one week before the meeting takes place.

“The report will also be published and considered in a cabinet meeting, open to the public.

“Cabinet will ultimately decide whether to accept any recommendations. The report would cross reference any relevant documents considered.

“The task and finish group meetings for Cinderford Northern Quarter did not have agendas published nor sit in public as task and finish meetings do not generally tend to be public meetings.

“The inquiry is open to the public on the 2nd, 5th, 10th and 11th November as evidence gathering days. There was a site visit and presentation on the 1st November to ‘set the scene’ for the inquiry members.

“On the 23rd September 2021 a number of questions were published by our communication team setting out key lines of inquiry to highlight the areas the inquiry is particularly interested in.

“Officers have supported and advised on documentation and evidence requested.”