THE Forest Council is furious after plans for a new Tesco store in Cinderford were withdrawn at the last minute, leaving the town once more holding its breath.

There were stunned faces in the Coleford council chamber on Tuesday afternoon when it became clear that the long-awaited decision whether or not to go ahead with the store would be deferred once again.

Council planners were expecting to vote on the issue with approval widely tipped.

However on Monday morning, Gloucestershire Highways announced that they were changing their position from acceptance to one where they feel the scheme cannot be delivered.

A problem with the measurements of the 'pinchpoint' in Dockham Road means some of the previous applications did not provide enough carriageway and footway clearance to meet with current requirements.

Gloucestershire Highways says it does not own enough land to make the necessary road improvements and the extra land that is vital for the success of the transport strategy may belong to the Co-op – the principle objectors to the plans. Legal advice is still being sought on the issues.

In the light of the late information submitted to the meeting, the councillors felt they had no option but to defer the decision until the interested parties had time to respond.

September is thought to be the earliest date that the case could be brought back to the committee.

Cllr Norman Stephens said: "I am appalled at today's proceedings. It makes this council look unprofessional and while I am not criticising our District planners, I am criticising Gloucestershire Highways.

"It is such a basic thing to go along and take a measurement. I just hope the public won't think it brings the Forest of Dean District Council into disrepute, because it shouldn't."

Cllr Lynn Sterry proposed that a formal complaint was submitted to Gloucestershire County Council and that they should be asked to cover the costs of the meeting. The motion was passed unanimously.

This deferral comes at the end of a long and troubled history for the superstore group's plans. It may be some time before another decision is taken on the former Cinderford RFC grounds on Dockham Road.

A total of 379 local objections have been registered against the Tesco plan with a mere 129 for, although many Cinderford people interviewed by the Review have said they see the Tesco store as vital for the town's future employment prospects.

A total of 121 people registered backing for an alternative plan for the Dockham Road site.

By far the biggest objections came from Midcounties Co-operative which has an established store adjacent to the planned Tesco site.

An original decision in 2006 to back the then Tesco plan was challenged in the High Court and quashed in July, 2007. A resubmission last year was withdrawn in the autumn.

Since then a meeting with the council led to the current submission going forward. The saga continues.