PLANS for bringing two new supermarkets to Ulverston as part of multi-purpose business site has got town folk talking about affordable shopping and jobs.

A major development, which could introduce an Aldi store and Marks and Spencer Food Hall to the town, is being proposed for land at the Beehive site just off the A590, where the emergency services Blue Light Hub is under construction.

The new mixed use business and retail site plan could deliver 300 jobs, with more than 70 new jobs being created at the supermarkets.

The proposal would also involve Lake District Farmers, now based at Tebay, and engineering firm, FETL, moving there. Other businesses hoping to be based there include a law firm, a vet's surgery and an insurance office.

The development is being led by commercial and retail developer Rawdon Property Group. Ulverston Town Council heard from them this week and a public consultation is scheduled to start in September. Formal applications for the development will be submitted to South Lakeland District Council.

In 2013 Sainsbury's was refused permission to build a 20,000 sq ft supermarket on the Beehive site. That application was rejected on the grounds that the site was earmarked for industrial use rather than retail. This latest plan is mixed use with industry and retail.

Ulverston residents, and others from the area, have been sharing their views on the plans since The Mail revealed the plans yesterday.

Points have been made about residents being keen to have an affordable shopping option through Aldi, and people have aired views about not having to travel to Barrow to shop. But others have questioned the impact on other shops and jobs.

On the The Mail Facebook page Nichola Howarth posted: "Save all us on this stretch of the A590 a small fortune in fuel. Be the first affordable supermarket for miles for those villages further up the road too. All for it!" But Dora Varga posted: "And how many local business will lose jobs??"

David Webster, the deputy mayor of Ulverston, said Ulverston Town Council will be listening to residents' views. When plans are submitted the town council will be asked to express its thoughts to SLDC planners.

Cllr Webster, who represents Town Ward, said: "We want to seek the opinions of the Ulverston residents. We will follow what they say and we will put forward our thoughts on whether it's a good idea or not."

Fellow Ulverston Town Councillor Colin Pickthall, who was chairman of the Keep Ulverston Special group, said the town will have to widely discuss the impact of the plans on the town centre and the A590.

Cllr Pickthall, who represents North Ward, said: "We will have to see what happens, this is a wide open issue. It's not all good, it's not all bad.

"We have to weigh up the economic impact on the town centre and the environmental impact on the road.

"The big question is about the two supermarkets, not the other firms."