THE long-running saga over a new supermarket for Cinderford appears to be finally over.

The High Court in London was due to hear another legal challenge from the Co-Op, against developing the town’s Steam Mills site, next Tuesday (July 11), but the retailer has withdrawn its application for a judicial review at the 11th hour.

Over nearly 20 years, Tesco and Asda have dropped their interest in opening a town store in the face of opposition from the Midcounties Co-operative, which trades on Dockham Road at the top of the town’s high street.

This time, the Co-op claimed that the Forest of Dean Council had unlawfully tried to grant and then reissue planning permission for the scheme, and had failed to consider up to date evidence of the retail impact of a new supermarket on town trade.

But after five years of legal battles since planning permission was first granted for Steam Mills, the supermarket giant has thrown in the towel.

And developers Trilogy Developments (Beverley) Ltd can now talk to other retailers about opening a store there, close to the Northern Quarter site earmarked for a new college, homes and businesses.

Trilogy boss Patrick Stones said: “I’m plea­sed they have finally seen the pointlessness of their challenge, and I’m not surprised that we ultimately won.

“The Co-op have been successful in challenging the plan in the past and it’s been a long, long battle for us and the council to get another food store in the town, but they’ve finally seen sense.

“The planning decisions in the past were flawed, and I think the Co-op exploited that to protect their trading position, using a system which is really there to protect us from unfair government and council decisions, not to prevent competition.

“Tesco first tried almost 20 years ago to open in the town and the Co-op fought that and won, and then we came in seven years ago on the Steam Mills site and spoke to Asda and others.

“But they later pulled out and said come back when all this has been decided. I’m already speaking to retailers and hopefully we can now do a deal by the end of the year.

“We’ve had three previous hearings by judges which the Co-op won, but each time the judge told the council what needed to be done, which it addressed. This time the Co-op realised we would win, which is why I think they have withdrawn.”

Forest council leader Cllr Patrick Molyneux (Sedbury, Con) said: “This is excellent news for the residents of Cinderford and the wider district and yet again another positive step forward for the regeneration of the town.

“We believe that Cinderford is long overdue another supermarket and local residents as consumers should have more choice in where they choose to shop.”

Amanda Watkins, who campaigned for another supermarket as part of the “We Want Asda” group, said: “It’s drag­ged on and on, but I’m absolutely delighted, I think it’s brilliant. It shows that the last five years of effort haven’t been wasted.

“I can drive, but many can’t and with all the new houses going down there, they need a supermarket nearby.

“I’m now going to urge our 2,000 Facebook followers to bombard Asda to come and open a store.”

A spokesperson for Midcounties Co-operative said: “We applied for a judicial review because we didn’t believe legal due process had been followed.

“Given the significant local impact of this decision, it is only right that businesses and residents have full confidence that all appropriate procedures are adhered to.

“We are now satisfied that planning and local policy has been followed and have withdrawn our appeal.”

The council passed outline permission for the fourth time in five years last December for a

store off Steam Mills Road and Estate Roads, prompting the latest Co-op call for a judicial review, lodged just hours before the January deadline.

But the retailer withdrew its legal challenge last Friday (June 30) after the council submitted documents to the High Court outlining its legal arguments, backed by evidence from IT professionals and planners.