MIDCOUNTIES Co-operative has six weeks to challenge "duplicate" proposals submitted by Asda in Cinderford.

Forest councillors passed the new proposals, submitted by Trilogy Developments, during a planning committee meeting in May in a bid to address issues identified by the Co-op.

Last Wednesday, the Secretary of State confirmed he didn't wish to call in the application which the council passed.

Since the council originally granted planning for the retail store at Steam Mills in 2012, Midcounties Co-op has challenged the decision based on four grounds and claims the plans are "unsound and go against regulations."

In March it successfully requested a judicial review against the council's decision to grant planning, which as a result landed the council with a £125,000 legal bill.

The second decision is set to be heard during a judicial review at High Court on September 3 and 4 and will establish whether there were any errors in the decision-making process.

A spokesperson for the district council said: "The council position remains that it has made sound decisions and has acted properly and lawfully in determining both of these applications and it will continue to robustly defend this position in court." 

Lead campaigner for the We Want Asda in Cinderford, Amanda Watkins added: "We should find out by August 13 if the Midcounties Co-op has challenged again. I just hope this time that the council have sorted themselves out and the judge sees sense."