Question: Has the building of a relatively small Tesco in Lydney improved the business of the main street shops and enhanced the 'market town' feel of Lydney?

Absolutely not! Whilst Tesco bustles with shoppers a business ghost town is emerging.

Will the building of a superstore that undercuts any small business trying to establish in Cinderford or Coleford improve their 'lovely market town' feel? Absolutely not!

The only reason behind building sapping mega stores in the area of the Forest of Dean is to improve supermarket chain and a few developers share holdings. They will contribute very little to the social capital of the countryside.

It doesn't bless the local butcher, greengrocer, electrical store, office supplies, small cafe, delicatessen, bakery, flower shops, clothing shops, newsagents, petrol station etc etc at all.

We drive into the supermarket, load up the car and go home – even less reason to visit the town centre. Actually the small Tesco in Coleford and the presence of community concerned supermarkets IS in keeping with the market town.

What about ploughing money into small time businesses that would so make our market towns a pleasure to visit? What about putting some serious restrictions on range of product sales for even existing supermarkets?  What about using town centres to encourage significant outdoor Saturday markets, busy coffee shops, and new locally run family businesses – yes all the things you would come to the rural Forest of Dean to find!

Do we want business initiative in our towns and villages or like everything else in the countryside are we selling out on our rural heritage? I suspect the latter.

– Name and address supplied (Cinderford).