THE great Cinderford supermarket roller coaster was gathering speed again this week as the Co-op launched yet another legal challenge against plans for a supermarket in the Steam Mills Road area.

After a number of failed legal battles over a proposed store on land at the junction with High Street and Valley Road, Asda stepped back from the fray in May 2015.

However, in October 2016 local planners approved an application from developers Trinity Developments (Berkeley) Ltd, this time without a supermarket retailer attached.

And with just hours to go before the deadline for appealing approached the Mid Counties Co-op lodged an appeal against the scheme with the High Court.

The Co-op says the presence of a large supermarket in the Steam Mills Road area would blight existing traders in the town centre.

In May 2015, Forest of Dean District Council lost a judicial review because it failed to consider the extent of harm the proposed store would have to the town centre.

Cllr Philip Burford, chairman of the planning committee, said: “I have every faith that our officers have done their job properly. If the Co-op are prepared to hire the top Queen’s Council lawyers to present a legal argument in court, it is very difficult to say how it will go.”

Ward Councillor Lynne Sterry said: “I was expecting this, but it is still a great pity.

“We are being deprived of supermarket choice in Cinderford.”

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Cinderford Mayor Cllr Max Coborn, said: “It’s a shame the Co-op have reacted like this, but its not altogether unexpected. We need more choice and more competition in Cinderford.”