PLANS for an Aldi supermarket on the outskirts of Coleford will go before Forest councillors next week with a recommendation that they are refused.

A similar scheme was rejected by the Forest Council’s planning committee in July last year.

Officers say the main differences between the two proposals are that the floor area of the current one is 14 square metres bigger than the previous one, the number of parking spaces is being reduced by two to 121 and the canopy over the main entrance is now enclosed.

The company says the scheme would bring a positive use to a site the council has identified for development and would provide “a valuable service to the community.”

The proposal has the backing of Coleford Town Council which says it would give residents more choice in shopping and 116 letters of support from local people have been received by the Forest Council.

Two local businesses have objected to the plans as they are concerned that it could deter retailers from coming to the centre of Coleford.

In a report to the planning committee, officials say it would go against its policy of encouraging retailers into the town centre and there is a suitable site at Pyart’s Court.

While it is acknowledged that the proposal would ‘claw back’ some of the spending that currently goes to other towns, officials believe the store would damage the viability of the centre.

The planning committee meets next Tuesday (September 13) at the Forest Council offices in Coleford.