DURING the public consultation exercises held on the proposed Tesco store in Coleford, the proposer took great pains to state that he had undertaken a number of price comparison exercises at other local supermarkets.

Results appeared to indicate that a Tesco store really could deliver good value goods at prices below those of competitors.

What then would the proposer say to the headline in The Daily Mail of Monday October 3, 2011, which reads "Tesco 'price war' leaves shoppers paying more"?

According to the article, "a basket of 33 staple items from the chain now costs £58.37 – up £1.34 since the campaign began. And despite threatening a price war against its rivals, Tesco items were actually more expensive than those in Sainsbury's and Asda."

If this is so, then how is it that we are told that Tesco will provide a real and cheaper alternative to that which Coleford already has – the Co-op, Tuffins – and, of course, Tesco's own Tesco Express in the High Street.

The people of Coleford, and those of the district council's planning committee should really think carefully as to whether or not they would like to see such a shop in the town, or indeed anywhere else in the Forest when it appears that there would be little or no competition caused by such a move. Who would be the winner? Certainly not the shopper!

– Tom Fox, Coalway.