WE would like to add to the numerous letters that you must have had regarding the Asda supermarket.

Statements being made by those presumably that are avid Co-op supporters, that more supermarkets will kill the town, ie small businesses, well, the Co-op has done that by itself, the chemist, travel agent and post office are all under the Co-op roof.

Why? Even the doctor's surgery send prescriptions to the Co-op chemist even when you specify that they are to be collected or sent to Boots.

Once Beales has finally closed its doors, what will happen to the building, left as another empty eyesore?

Cinderford could do with some pretty little cafés or tea rooms that holiday makers could enjoy, after all, it is supposed to be the Heart of the Forest.

Competition is a good thing and an additional supermarket will create jobs, something Cinderford needs, now that jobs have been lost due to Beales having to close.

What also happened to the regeneration that Cinderford was potentially going to have to enable it to become a more vibrant, clean and attractive little town?

Cinderford needs to change in order to get people visiting and spending money but with the Co-op attempting to quash any plan of improvement this seems to be floundering.

What does the Co-op think it is? They have parking wardens operating in the only accessible car park locally and if they own the car park behind Beales (still Westgate) why hasn't that been improved?

What does the Co-op have to do with Asda anyway? Providing Asda has applied for planning permission, it is the responsibility of the council to approve or disapprove once all facts have been studied and assessed as relevant or not, then vote for or against planning. The Co-op at the end of the day has its own interests in trying to protect its financial status and monopoly in this soon to be ghost town if nothing changes.

For example, take a look at all the other pretty little towns around (those that have been painted and look clean), Monmouth, Ross, Chepstow, Ledbury, Stow etc, these seem to be bustling and with more than one supermarket.

The comments made over the past few weeks regarding the need for Asda in Cinderford are totally correct in our opinion and hopefully many signatures will be raised in approval of the store.

Mr & Mrs Marriner