CIVIC leaders say that developers battling to build more houses in Newent should be made to put £300,000 towards a new community centre for the town.

Newent Town Council are locked in a battle with the Gloucestershire Land Company over plans for a third estate of new homes.

During a three-day public inquiry to be held at the end of the month members will make their opposition to the plans clear.

But they will tell the inspector that if he goes against their wishes, GLC should be forced to donate £300,000 in return for being allowed to build 120 new homes in a field off Foley Road.

Town and district councillor Len Lawton accused the company of being land speculators looking to make a quick profit.

"The town council does not support the application for what is now known as phase three, but in the event of the planning inspector agreeing the application, the town would like a £300,000 contribution towards the new community centre," he said.

"That works out at around £2,500 per house. The GLC company says it does not want to give anything because the town has benefited already, but that was from phases 1 and 2."

The district council turned down the planning application because it says the Forest does not need the new homes planned for green fields between Phase 1 and Phase 2 off Onslow Road.

But GLC claims it is the only way to meet the Forest's house building targets and have appealed.

A Government inspector will decide after the three-day public hearing which will open at the district council offices in Coleford on October 30.

Newent Initiative Trust will be unveiling its plans for a new

£1.23 million community centre after Christmas.

The town council will donate the land and the rest will be raised from the sale of the current community centre on Ross Road, the possible sale of the Chill Out Zone and grants already donated from developers.

Mayor Roger Beard said several sites are being looked at, including the Paddocks near the lake, and an architect has been asked to come up with designs to suit all the current users.

There is a £300,000 shortfall but he says he would rather the estate was not built than have the money.

"The town council is 100 per cent against this development going forward, but should the appeal be granted, we will be looking for £300,000 towards the new community centre," he said.

"It would plug our shortfall but we will fund the community centre with or without this money.

"We are determined to find the £300,000 bedcause Newent needs a central hub."

Gloucestershire Land Company was unavailable for comment.