THREE supermarkets could be on their way to the Forest after Asda and Sainsbury's got the nod from local planners and an appeal was decided in favour of Tesco.

The decisions allow Asda to build at Steam Mills in Cinderford, Sainsbury's to proceed with their plans for east Lydney and for Tesco to increase their presence in Coleford.

In the case of Sainsbury's application to build on a brownfield to the east of Lydney, councillors on the Forest of Dean District Council's planning committee approved the scheme against the recommendation of officers.

Vice-chair of the committee, Cllr Gethyn Davies, said he feared Lydney "would fail" if the application by Sainsbury's and Robert Hitchins Ltd was refused.

The plan for a new Asda store at Steam Mills was passed in line with the recommendation from officers but Tesco had to go through a drawn-out appeal for the site near Pyart Court.

Tesco went to appeal after its application for a store, five retail units and improvements to Pyart Court was rejected by the council on the grounds that it would not be in keeping with the surrounding area.

Planning inspector Mr David Leeming did not agree that was sufficient reason to refuse permission.

Local campaigners against the plan say that as a result of objections a number of conditions have been imposed relating to landscaping and the construction and operation of the store.

The applications for both Asda and Sainsbury's were decided in front of a packed public gallery at the council offices in Coleford on Tuesday afternoon.

The Asda plan had been held up by a challenge by the Co-op which has an existing store in Cinderford.

The town had "changed significantly" since a previous application on the site in 1999, the committee was told.

Cllr Roger Sterry claimed opposition to the store had been led by "Cinderford's Co-op mafia" and a new store was needed as a centrepiece to the Northern Quarter development to stop Cinderford being a "one horse town."

Among those who addressed the planning committee on the Sainsbury's development was Lydney town councillor Carol Harris.

She said the town council had objected to the scheme on economic and sustainability grounds but were pleased that, following negotiations, a revised plan was submitted which includes financial contributions for a number of improvements including grants for shop fronts in the town, a shuttle bus between the store and town and an extension of Lydney's CCTV system.