I AGREE with your readers in a recent Review. D. Annetts and the author of 'Calling the tune' were absolutely spot on. What Cinderford needs in respect of trading is competition. Do we really want to be like the towns in the 'old wild west' where the 'company store' dictates?
The Co-op has had it their way for too long now, 50 years to my knowledge. They could have made all these so-called improvements for Cinderford a long time ago but these plans suddenly appear when a competitive supermarket looks to be gaining favour.
Tesco cannot be blamed for what we've already lost; an independent chemist, a travel agent, Dorothy Perkins (a reasonably priced clothes shop) and innumerable small shops.
Let's not allow these new plans to lose us a rugby club as well. The time has come for some life-giving competition to arrive and enable Cinderford to march into the 21st century. – L. Jones, Littledean.