PLANS for an ASDA in Lydney have been given the go-ahead after a High Court judge quashed Tesco’s ‘opportunistic’ appeal against the store, last week.

The Forest of Dean District Council originally granted planning permission for the 25,000sqft Asda store and filling station on the JD Norman site in March 2014.

Planning permission also included a 40,000sqft finishing shop and 6,000sqft of office space for JD Norman.

John Cooke, union conveyor at the camshaft factory, believes this will safeguard the 200 jobs currently at the site.

He said: “This is brilliant news. The Asda will be built on brownfield land, the construction of the new factory will add to job security and it also brings in extra jobs at the supermarket.

“I thought it was going to end up like the Cinderford legal battle between the Co-op and Asda.

“But I’m glad to see the judge ruled in favour of Asda. This means extra competition which should help bring prices down and also cheaper fuel.”

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