APPALLED: June FlemingCHARITY leaders fear their nature centre project could lose hard-earned grants if councillors do not restore their lease quickly.

The committee aiming to create the Hope Nature Centre on land at Southwick Country Park delivered an emotional plea to West Wiltshire District Council's cabinet on Wednesday night.

The centre, which would be used by tourists and local residents as well as providing jobs for 40 young people with learning difficulties, already has planning permission.

Last month the council withdrew its offer to lease a 12-acre site to the project, claiming conditions had not been met.

Project leaders have already raised nearly £200,000 to fund it and say the council did not communicate properly with them.

Council portfolio holder Cllr Ernie Clark has agreed to further meetings with the group in an attempt to resolve the issue.

Centre chairman June Fleming told the cabinet: "We are absolutely appalled and disgusted that our lease was withdrawn at one of your meetings.

"We've been given grants by several charities, but these will not be allocated to us indefinitely. They must be used before set dates.

"We would like to start building as soon as possible as there are trees that have to be moved during the winter. The spring will be too late for this.

"Please resolve this sooner rather than later and grant us this lease to help 40 young people with learning disabilities."

One of the reasons the council cited for withdrawing the lease was the centre's business plan, which it felt needed more detail.

Mrs Fleming said: "We felt very let down because we didn't know there was a time limit. A phone call to us would have produced the documents.

"The business plan West Wiltshire District Council has was done two years ago. We now have a full one."

Centre treasurer Robert Hall said: "The total park area at Southwick is 222 acres. We only want less than 10 percent of that.

"In January 2002 we were given four conditions, but this spring we were given a further eight conditions which were very detailed."

Mr Hall said the extra conditions had meant contactors took more time to provide quotes and this delayed the business plan.

He added: "We really can't afford to be held up for that long because of the grant situation."

Council leader Tony Phillips reassured Mrs Fleming and Mr Hall councillors were not abandoning the project.

He said: "The cabinet have the power to agree to the lease if the conditions are met."

Cabinet members also agreed that, aside from exceptional circumstances, plans for large areas of open space would not be considered until a planned leisure and recreational needs assessment is completed.

emezzetti@newswilts.co.uk