THE Co-op supermaket in the centre of Lydney will close in three weeks after a potential buyer was found for the site.

Staff were informed last week that the store on Newerne Street would close on September 17.

Owners Midcounties Co-operative have now entered consultation with the 21 staff and say workers will, “where possible” be offered other jobs “within the Midcounties family of businesses”.

The company says the Post Office, pharmacy and travel agency in the store will continue to trade “as usual”.

The store was declared as not fitting in with the Midcounties’ long-term plans in 2020.

It was put on the market as a £1.5 million “development opportunity” in May.

A statement from Midcounties reads: “The Midcounties Co-operative regularly reviews its property portfolio to ensure it is providing the best opportunity to deliver for its members and continuing to support the communities in which it operates.

“As a result of this process, in 2020 the Lydney site was identified as not fitting with the long-term strategy of the Society and the site was subsequently placed on the market.

“A potential buyer for the site has now been identified and we have therefore taken the difficult decision to close the store from September 17.

“The post office, pharmacy and travel store on the site continue to trade as usual.”

Midcounties opened two more Your Co-op stores in the Forest in 2021, in Bream on Coleford Road and at the top of Lydney on Highfield Hill. 

“We’d like to thank all our customers and members for shopping at the store over the years and look forward to welcoming them at one of our other Your Co-op stores in the Forest of Dean, which include our convenience store in Lydney as well as sites in Coleford and Bream.”