25th July 2007

A Planning decision to allow Tesco to build a supermarket in Cinderford next to the existing Coop has been overturned in the High Court. The Green party were the only main vocal opposition in local press and are now delighted by this decision.

The Tesco bid will now have to be reconsidered by the Council which will give the Coop and others a fresh chance to make representations to block the development.

Philip Booth, a spokesperson for Gloucestershire Green party said: "This application by Tesco should have been thrown out at the start. The proposed replacement rugby club site is far less sustainable: the loss of the current rugby club open space in the town centre would be unacceptable. It is positive that the judge highlighted this issue and other failures by the District Council to apply policies properly (i)."

Philip Booth added: "Tesco threatens to kill off other local businesses and turn Cinderford into a town with boarded up shops. But it is not just our local economies that are effected: supermarkets also have huge negative impacts on our environment, health and small suppliers. Cinderford needs regenerating but this is not the way to go."

See one of the Green party letters to the press in November 2005 here and September 2005 here 

Note:

(i) Policies failed to consider include the use of artificial lighting in the countryside and a condition requiring replacement facility before the supermarket can be built.