Both my wife and myself shop in Coleford nearly every day of the week and have yet to be interviewed on this topic but we are regularly asked by fellow shoppers "When do we think Tesco's are coming".
I don't know who Fran Challice is, I have never met her or any of her so say team. Who supports and finance them? Her "key questions" are very cleverly poised. Yes I would like farm market shops, but we have none. This would be additional to, not against, competitive supermarkets. From all the moans and groans I hear while shopping there is no doubt that supermarket competition is badly and urgently needed in Coleford.
The only food retail outlets in the old part of Coleford at the present time are three butchers, a bakery and a fruit and vegetable shop. There are very many hairdressers, charity shops, estate agents, offices and cafes and, of course, Tesco Express and Co-op which are not of suitable size for a full blown supermarket.
There is no location in the town that could support the 21st century demands of the current supermarket shopper both in size and providing adjacent car parking. The appeal site is the only one reasonably near the town. Failure to get this allowed will only result in an out of town location for such a shop being selected. What a tragedy it would be for the smaller traders and those without their own transport.
Coleford is dying as we talk and unless more people are encouraged to come into the town and use the shops the future is very bleak. Only this week I am told of a further four town centre shops closing shortly without any sign of reopening – unless another few hairdressers perhaps.
It is common knowledge that other shops in town are finding it very hard to exist and every effort should be given to them by encouraging more folk into the town by whatever means possible. Coleford recently lost its second bank and three of the leading building societies have gone which results in people having to go to other locations to do their saving – all of this obviously resulted from lack of customers using the facilities.
We shop at Tesco in Lydney every two weeks or so, having done our daily shopping in Coleford but on each visit, without fail, see at least six to 10 people from Coleford in that supermarket doing their weekly shopping. Once a month or so we go to Waitrose and Lidl in Monmouth and always see as many Coleford people there.
Morrisons is another attraction at Ross and you will always see someone you know there. All of this in a half hour shopping period irrespective of the time of day. Also interesting is to see Co-op staff, including supervisors, doing their weekly shopping in Tesco, surely this must tell a story when they get a staff discount in the store where they work!
Both Lydney and Cinderford already have two full blown supermarkets with further ones currently on the cards, I know there is a blip at the moment with Asda but I am certain this will be resolved. If these go ahead and Coleford remains with the solitary supermarket then the writing is well and truly on the wall for our town's future. We have not even got a town where visitors can come and do window shopping!
The district council's imposition of parking charges on their car parks, against local people's views, shop keepers and town council members, has done nothing to help this situation and was just the straw that broke the camel's back for Coleford traders.
Car parks are now nearly always empty and many businesses have closed down since these charges were introduced. Commercial rates lost must have massively outstripped any parking fees taken. I think those councillors who voted for parking charges will have a long time to mull over their action following the next election.
For Coleford's future, for the potential 10,000 weekly shoppers, another supermarket is an urgent necessity what ever firm takes it on.
– Paul Morgan, Coleford.