I write in response to the article in last week's Review 'Tesco shed thrown out for second time'.

My God, what the hell is going on with the Forest Planning Department to turn this application down. Coleford needs to move forward. Full stop.

The town needs people to visit it to increase the footfall to visit its independent retailers.

We are not as fortunate as Cinderford and Lydney who have 'bigger names' in the town such as Burtons and Dorothy Perkins, Westgate, and Original Factory Store. Coleford is lacking in this, and it is naïve to think that the town can continue to survive without the back-up of the high street names.

Our independent retailers do a fantastic job, and create the individual identity that a small market town like Coleford needs. I worked as a trader in Coleford for over 10 years, and know the value that traders like this give to a town. However, we need footfall, and it is only big names like Tesco, Woolworths (RIP) and Dorothy Perkins that can bring this to the town.

Coleford needs Tesco.

It might be branded 'Shed Mark 2', but what do people expect after that monstrosity that was allowed in Coleford over 20 years ago when the now Co-op development was passed. 'Big Brown Slug' was what was reported, I recall, and now the recent developments have seen a vast improvement on the building.

The Tesco development is just another step on from the Co-op. 'Factory unit with a toilet block on the end of it' it may be referred to, but this is the precedent that the Forest of Dean District Council planning department set 20 years ago when the brown slug was passed. What does the planning committee expect to be built on an out of town development in a Forest town – the next Sistine chapel?

Pyart Court was derided when it was passed, but this is finally the last piece of the jigsaw that links that with the town centre. It will finally fill the wasteland that surrounds Pyart Court, and bring people into the town to patronise the local shops and spend money in Coleford.

This is not the time for personality conflicts, and one-upmanships againsts individuals.

This is about Coleford and its future. Come on, let's unite about this and make sure Coleford is fit for the future.

– Name and Address supplied.