The introduction of a larger Tesco store in Coleford would be a complete disaster for the town.

Coleford is absolutely fine as it is, a very comfortable self contained market town. Coleford has many independent small shops and services, three butchers, who support a local abattoir, a baker, a greengrocer florists etc. There is also a Co-op supermarket. With the arrival of Tesco's many of the present shops will disappear. In fact the heart would be ripped out of the town.

I ask planners to keep Coleford as it is. Other communities have lived to regret the destruction of their independent shops. A market town such as Coleford is also a tourist attraction and something a little different. Let's keep it that way before it is too late.

– Alec Kear, Oldcroft.