A CRITICAL month lies ahead for the embattled Cotswold Water Park.

Former Cotswold Water Park Society (CWPS) chief Dennis Grant, who was jailed in July for defrauding the charity of more than £600,000, is due to appear in court on the second week in January for a hearing deciding how much he must pay back.

The result of the hearing could see Cotswold Water Park Trust, which took over the running of the park following Grant’s fraud, recoup almost £1million.

Grant was due to appear at Gloucester Crown Court for the hearing in November, but was unable to attend for health reasons.

Meanwhile, former Gloucestershire City Council chairman Graham Garbutt, who is conducting an independent review into the running of CWPS, is expected to present his findings at the end of January.

The findings of his report could shed some light on how Grant was able to steal almost £700,000 of the society’s cash to fund his luxurious lifestyle.

Cotswold District Councillor Esmond Jenkins (Lib Dem, Water Park) is also due for a hearing with the Standards Board for England next month.

Cllr Jenkins was a key figure in exposing Dennis Grant’s fraud, but has been subject to several complaints about his conduct during his investigation.