THE prospects of part of the Rolle campus being retained for community use increased this week following a flurry of behind-the-scenes activity.

THE prospects of part of the Rolle campus being retained for community use increased this week following a flurry of behind-the-scenes activity.

A Community Interest Company, Rolle Exmouth, was launched, to enable negotiations with developers, public bodies and private investors.

The not-for-profit company will be the vehicle to drive the project to attain Rolle for community use, education and training.

A series of Task Groups are being formed to focus on ten 'action areas' which emerged from the community engagement day at the end of January.

These include community fundraising, negotiating with developers, pursuing educational for the site, lobbying the county council to move the reference library to the site, completion of a business plan and a design brief.

And on Monday the town hall agreed to set aside up to �5,000 to help cover initial costs of the behind the scenes work.

A further �2,000 was also rubberstamped to cover the cost of a property survey to get a clearer idea of any refurbishment costs.

The money will be drawn from an existing �30,000 fund ring-fenced by the town hall last year.

Jenny Budden of the Starter Group said: "What is now needed is for those interested to join in...by helping to produce a state of the art learning centre for our young people and a community hub for Exmothians of all ages."

Chairman of the Rolle Starter Group, Roy Pryke added: "This is the big test for us and for Exmouth.

"We see Rolle as part of the regeneration of Exmouth; a vital part of its economy as well as its community.

"We have a lot of work to do in a short time, but at the moment the tide is flowing with us.

"Within a couple of months we shall know whether Rolle will continue as an active and beneficial part of the town or will just become another housing development.

"We must put in sustained effort now to ensure that our dreams for Rolle become a reality. Not to succeed would be really bad news for the community and for future generations."

If you want to get involved call Jenny on: (01395) 274802.