DISCOUNT super- market Lidl has submitted its plans for a new store in the centre of Coleford, following a bruising battle with retail rival Aldi.

Lidl loudly opposed Aldi’s four-year bid for an edge of town store at Tufthorn Avenue after declaring its intenion earlier this year to open its own store in Lord’s Hill.

And after a contentious planning meeting attended by top directors of both companies last April, Aldi’s scheme was scuppered, despite it having been previously approved by planners, only for existing town trader the Co-Op to have it overturned by a High Court judge.

Submitting its new planning application to the Forest Council, Lidl said the 1,815 sq m store at Pyart Court will create up to 40 new jobs and feature an instore bakery, a customer toilet and parking for 76 cars.

Glen Stidever, Lidl UK’s Regional Head of Property, said: “We have received an incredible amount of support from the local community and are delighted to announce that we have submitted a planning application with Forest of Dean District Council.

“If granted, this would mark a multi-million pound investment in the town centre, and the creation of new jobs when the store opens.

“We would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone for their support and feedback so far, particularly those that attended our public consultation last month and now look forward to receiving the decision in due course.”

Lidl is also targetting a new store at Wolf Business Park in Ross-on-Wye, where Aldi already has a town centre store.

And the store wars show no sign of aba-ting, with Aldi opening a new front by announcing in October that it was looking to build another 130 stores nationwide in the next two years, with Monmouth, Chepstow and Caldicot among sites reportedly being targeted.

The site proposed by Lidl was previously granted planning permission for a Tesco store, but the latter pulled out in 2014 after the company was hit by financial problems.

Proposed opening for the Lidl store are 8am to 10pm, Mondays to Saturdays, and 10am to 4pm or 11am to 5pm on Sundays.

Aldi’s original bid for a 1,804 sq m store with 121 parking spaces at Tufthorn Avenue was passed by the full Forest Council in October 2016, but overturned by the High Court in August 2017 after Mid Counties Co-Op challenged it on the grounds that no ecomonic impact assesment had been undertaken, which landed the council with a £35,000 legal bill.

And after Lidl suddenly announced it wanted to open a store in the centre of town just days before Aldi’s reapplication was due to be considered, the scheme was rejected at a heated planning meeting, prompting one woman to shout “disgusting” from the public gallery.

Aldi claimed that Lidl would not deliver on its scheme, but Lidl spokesman Ian O’Gorman told the meeting: “I stand here as a food retailer confirming to you that we will develop the Lord’s Hill site.”

For more information, go to www.coleford.lidl.co.uk