A BID to stop Asda opening a store in Cinderford has been thrown out by the High Court.

The Co-op, which already has a supermarket in the town, was seeking a judicial review of the Forest Council's decision to grant planning permission to allow Asda to build at Steam Mills Road.

Judge Anthony Thornton QC refused permission to challenge the council's decision.

He said the Co-op should have brought its action sooner, that the council had considered all relevant planning appeal decisions and appropriate developer contributions were being sought.

Judge Thornton said all relevant planning policy had been considered and the council had attached appropriate conditions to the permission.

Deputy leader of the council Brian Robinson said: "The District Council has been notified of the High Court decision in respect of a legal challenge by Midcounties Cooperative Ltd against the council's decision to grant planning permission for a new supermarket at Steam Mills Road, Cinderford.

The judge has refused permission to challenge the council's decision stating that the challenge should have been made more promptly, that the council had considered all relevant planning appeal decisions and appropriate developer contributions were being sought. Furthermore, the judge found that the council had considered relevant planning policy and attached appropriate conditions.

Cllr Brian Robinson, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Efficient Council and Planning Policy said: "This is great news for Cinderford and is a very welcome endorsement of the council's planning procedures and policy.

"We believe Cinderford can accommodate an additional retail outlet and this marks another step on the road to the regeneration of Cinderford, creating a more sustainable and economically diverse town.

 "The scheme will make additional contributions toward the town centre and, building on what the council has already achieved, we now hope to work closely with the Co-op to ensure that we create and maintain a thriving town centre." 

The Co-op has seven days to appeal against the judge's ruling.

The decision was made public after this week's edition of the Review had gone to press.