Mum launches petition in support of Ulverston superstore
Last updated at 07:57, Wednesday, 20 February 2013
A PETITION supporting plans for a Sainsbury’s in Ulverston has been launched by a resident who feels the town’s supermarket debate has been too one-sided.
Within a few hours of going online the petition had attracted 25 signatures.
It calls for South Lakeland District Council to approve the application to build a Sainsbury’s at the Beehive, just off the A590.
It claims Ulverston is in danger of becoming a “ghost town” and says by creating jobs and getting more people to shop locally the store would revitalise the local economy.
Ulverston mum Suzie Lawson, of Old Hall Road, said she felt compelled to do something because those in favour of a supermarket in the town were not being heard.
She said: “I don’t see why we should travel eight miles to a different town to do our shopping.”
There has been vocal opposition to the proposed Sainsbury’s, and a rival supermarket at the old Robinsons brewery site, in recent months.
However, Miss Lawson said, despite many people sharing her views, the arguments in support of a new supermarket were not as well promoted.
She said she had been hesitant to speak out for fear of stirring up trouble but wanted to make sure her views were represented.
She added: “There are two sides to every story. I’m not going to be told what’s right and what’s wrong – you are entitled to your own view.
“I don’t want to start an argument. I just think people need to be a bit more open-minded and listen to other people’s opinions.”
Miss Lawson said cafes in the town had not been put out of business every time a new rival outlet opened and she does not see why a Sainsbury’s would be different.
And while many people have argued against the plans because they are for an out-of-town site, that is precisely why she supports them.
She added: “I am against the Robinsons site because I don’t think there should be anything like that in Ulverston.”
She also criticised arguments that a new supermarket would create traffic problems, saying it would take save many people from travelling to Barrow to do their shopping and take cars off the road.
The petition, which had attracted 138 signatures as of February 20, is available at www.gopetition.com/petitions/bring-sainsburys-to-ulverston.html
First published at 16:01, Monday, 18 February 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk
Is watching the slow decay of a former site of employment and production part of what makes Ulverston 'Special'? Will it become and archaeological dig one day?
I cant get passed the feeling that there is so much snobbery involved in this 'KUS' group - Booths is fine, but Sainsburys doesn't quite fit the demographic that they believe should be allowed into Ulverston. What exactly is 'special' about Ulverston High Street? Tesco? Co-op? Blockbuster? Costa? The patchwork of cobbles and temporary tarmac? Lloyds TSB? And whats even more ironic is the fact that I would wager that (by the looks of them) all of these KUS leaders spent the '80s voting for Thatcher and the rampant free market capitalism that molded the country into how it is today. The Horse has bolted. It isnt 1950 anymore, it isn't going back. What we need are jobs and investment. This stor will tidy up the area and bring a sense that Ulvrston is still worth investing in, and not a camp on the way into ASDA. - DougView all 46 comments on this article
Have your say
the sooner we get a sainsburys the better it will save me going to barrow to shop at asda tesco morrisons and aldi.the keep ulverston specialpeople are way behind times,lets have a proper supermarket sainsburys would be perfect.carry on the good work suzie.ulverston also needs the jobs
Posted by stephen on 24 April 2013 at 19:31