THE Forest Theatre and sports facilities at Five Acres will remain open until Gloucestershire College moves to the Northern Quarter.

The college had previously said it would not be taking any bookings after July 2017 but this has since been put down to an ‘administrative error’.

The facilities will remain open until for the foreseeable future with ownership of them being transferred to the community following the college’s proposed move in 2018.

District Councillor Tim Gwilliam said he was delighted that the facilities would remain open to the public and said: “Apparently the closure was down to an administrative error by the college.”

Dave Kent, clerk for West Dean Parish Council, confirmed that the facilities would remain open and said: “When the college moves from the Five Acres site, the theatre will continue to remain as a local facility once a deal is completed between West Dean and the college.”

Michelle Cant, head of communications at the college, said: “Teaching and learning will continue at our current Five Acres site until the summer of 2018, and we will continue to take bookings for the Forest Theatre for the foreseeable future.”