A PROBLEM-hit nature centre project could be handed a lifeline next week. West Wiltshire District Council's cabinet deferred a decision on whether to grant a lease to Trowbridge's Hope Nature Centre at a meeting held last week.

Now town and district councillor Jeff Osborn is to put a motion to the full council on Wednesday proposing the lease is granted.

He said: "They have raised over £200,000 for this and they could lose that if the work doesn't start this financial year."

The project, which would create jobs for 40 people with learning difficulties, has planning permission for a site at Southwick Country Park, but the district council owns the land.

The council agreed it would lease a 12-acre plot of land but reversed that decision in September, amid plans to carry out a leisure recreational needs assessment across the district.

Speaking at last week's meeting Cllr Richard Wiltshire, cabinet member for environmental services, said: "There are other users to consider.

"The recreational report will make sure the site is in the ideal place, and it is necessary to wait for those findings.

"Although we support the plans, we need to get the overall view before we can go ahead."

The centre includes plans for a tea-room, shop, nature trail and nursery.

Centre chairman June Fleming has vowed to fight all the way to Downing Street, if need be, to ensure the project goes ahead.