Planning boss Terry Glastonbury fears building a new Tesco in Cinderford, Gloucestershire, may force smaller shops to close.

Tesco has applied to build a branch at Cinderford's rugby ground close to the town centre.

But Mr Glastonbury, chairman of the district council's planning committee, said it would hurt the town's smaller retailers.

Mr Glastonbury had to declare an interest, which means he cannot take part in planning debates about the scheme, but said he felt strongly about the issue.

His decision to speak out was based on the experience of his home town, Lydney, where a new Tesco was built in 2001.

"Since Tesco came to Lydney, we've lost the greengrocer, we've lost two bakeries, we've lost a wet fish shop and two butchers and I don't want to see it happen in Cinderford," he said.

The Lydney Tesco also attracted criticism from former councillor Alan Preest, who said local shops were unable to compete.

He believes the same problems would be seen in Cinderford.

"It is the Tesco effect. How can the local businesses compete?" he said.

But Cinderford Rugby Club, who play in the national leagues, said the scheme was vital to its plans to relocate to a larger site at nearby St White's Farm.

"We're doing extremely well at the moment – we're in the top 42 clubs in the country, doing better than we could even dream of," said commercial manager Matt Bayliss.

"There are so many kids up there who want to play rugby and that's our next generation of people coming through, so we really do need to move so those kids can play on their own ground."

Tesco spokesman Felix Gummer said the store would revitalise the town by bringing shoppers to the centre.

"Over 50 per cent of expenditure is going out of Cinderford. People are feeling their retail needs aren't being met in the town," he said.

"What we need to do is bring people into the centre, we want to increase the vitality of the town."

Mayor of Cinderford, Max Coborn, is reserving judgement until he sees it open, but he is hopeful it will bring much needed footfall to local shops.

"The improvement of Cinderford hinges on the new Tesco store," he said.

"Until we get it here, there is no way of knowing whether it will be a good thing or a bad thing."

"It is going to affect some shops I'm sure, which is a shame, but there will be more jobs on offer and residents of Cinderford can shop in their own town."