Cinderford is facing a pivotal moment as community leaders, councils, and residents join forces to reverse the town’s recent decline. With an 18 percent vacancy rate in its high street—the highest among the Forest of Dean’s four market towns in 2023—urgent action is needed to restore vitality and opportunity.
A 2024 Market Town Regeneration report has underscored the challenges confronting Cinderford’s retail sector and emphasized the need for a comprehensive revitalization plan. Responding to this, Forest of Dean District Council appointed a market towns officer last year to spearhead initiatives aimed at drawing shoppers, creating jobs, and breathing new life into the town centers.
Now, Cinderford Town Council, Forest of Dean District Council, and Gloucestershire County Council are collaborating closely on a strategic plan to transform Cinderford into a vibrant destination. Recent research reveals that fewer than 20 percent of locals feel the town adequately serves families, children, and young people, many of whom seek entertainment elsewhere, such as Ross or Gloucester.
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Recognizing Cinderford’s potential as the largest town in the district with nearly 13,000 residents and its location within a region attracting millions of tourists annually, the councils envision a future where Cinderford stands out as a hub for visual arts. The town’s rich industrial heritage offers fertile ground for events similar to Camborne’s Trevithick Day, or a heritage initiative akin to Cornwall’s World Heritage Site for mining, uniting smaller local projects under one identity.
Creative initiatives are in the works to offer low-rent or free spaces for cultural, art, and heritage projects—inspiring a renewed emphasis on ‘making’ that intertwines traditional industry, skilled trades, and the arts. Furthermore, the town is poised to embrace a fresh industrial identity as a pioneer in the Forest of Dean’s transition to renewable energy.
Town Council chairman Graham Morgan expressed optimism about the united commitment to Cinderford’s resurgence. He noted that the town, once heavily reliant on employers like Rank Xerox in nearby Mitcheldean, has struggled economically since their closure in the early 2000s.
County Councillor Ray Donoghue emphasized the importance of collective responsibility and collaboration in addressing the impacts of declining retail and town center transformation. His call to action includes property owners maintaining appealing storefronts, efficient infrastructure repairs by highways, and efforts to make public spaces welcoming for residents and visitors alike.
“A cooperative spirit and flexibility are crucial, especially amid financial pressures,” Donoghue said. “Yet, if we each play our part, Cinderford can realize its true potential.”
Councillor Julian Tooke, responsible for business and economic development at Shire Hall, highlighted ongoing projects and the proposal to establish a Business Improvement District (BID) in the area. Such partnerships, funded and led by local businesses, offer enhanced cleaning, security, marketing, and public space upgrades beyond what councils typically provide.
“It is imperative that politicians, public, and private sectors collaborate to tackle challenges,” Tooke stated. “I’m encouraged by the teamwork in the Forest of Dean and remain committed to helping our towns flourish.”
With a new town plan in development and growing public engagement, stakeholders are hopeful that through shared effort, Cinderford can be revitalized as a thriving market town with a promising future.