IT seems to me that the poor old Co-op can do nothing right as far as its detractors are concerned. It seems that it's determined to maintain its "monopoly" by hook or by crook, it's responsible for the closure of Cinderford's department store – and not only that, its prices are far too high.  What it needs, in Cinderford at least, is Asda to give it a boot up the backside.

As a Co-op member (and shopper), I don't recognise any of these charges. I reckon that the Co-op is entitled to fight its corner as would any other store – and when Asda plans an out of town superstore on the edge of Cinderford, that surely threatens all the shops in the town centre. It's why Tesco's planning application was turned down some years ago, when they wanted to build a new store out at Steam Mills.

As for the Co-op's "threat" to the Beales (formerly Westgate) department store, this issue is far more complex than its been presented. Perhaps we should wait until we have all the facts before we cast the first stone. But, come on, it's hardly likely that the Midcounties Co-op really wants the store to remain empty.

I cannot comment on the charge that the Co-op is just too pricey. As I always shop at the Co-op, I can't go in for price comparisons with other stores, and I wouldn't want to. But as pensioners with a limited amount of cash to spend, we've found that goods are fairly priced – and we have a wide range of both fair trade and locally sourced goods to choose from. And as a member of the Co-op, I have a say in its policies.

Once upon a time I did shop at Asda. I admit it  – but that was a different time, and a different place. It was many years before it was taken over by Walmart. It was then a mainly northern-based supermarket chain owned by Associated Dairies. Back in those days it was always an interesting place to shop. But in 1999, it became "part of the Walmart family". Walmart is of course an American company with an ultra-aggressive approach to building its retail empire, not only here but elsewhere in the world. Having taken over whole communities in the USA it's started to move in on Canada as well, threatening local Canadian retailers in the process. Cost cutting is only part of its approach. It has been accused of squeezing its suppliers to the point where at least some have been driven out of business.

It's hardly the poor downtrodden victim that its supporters like to claim. So let's have a reality check, shall we?

– Alistair Graham, Lydney.