Road fears hold up Ulverston supermarket
Last updated at 16:43, Tuesday, 11 December 2012
TRAFFIC impact fears are holding up a decision on whether Sainsbury’s can build a supermarket in Ulverston.
The firm’s planning application was expected to be heard by South Lakeland District Council’s planning committee later this month but an order from the Highways Agency is causing delays.
The agency has twice issued a holding direction, which prevents a decision being made until it is satisfied with the plans.
The Highways Agency has asked for more information from the supermarket giant about its plans for the Beehive site, off the A590, before it makes its decision.
A notice sent to SLDC’s planning office in October prevented the application being granted until November 29 but a second holding direction, with the same wording, has been issued since then. The original notice, dated October 29, said: “The Secretary of State awaits further information on behalf of the developer to form a view as to whether the proposed development would generate traffic to an extent that would be incompatible with the use of the affected trunk roads.”
A spokeswoman for the agency said: “The Highways Agency currently has a holding direction in place for the planning application made by Sainsbury’s in Ulverston.
“This is standard practice while further information is awaited to ascertain the potential effects of a new development on the surrounding road network.
“The Highways Agency is currently assessing the extra information provided before any decision can be made and the holding direction withdrawn.”
Planning permission cannot be granted without the approval of the Highways Agency, meaning no decision can be made until it is satisfied it has the necessary information.
SLDC planning officer Fiona Clark said the issue may be resolved in time for the application to be heard by the planning committee in January but no date has yet been set.
A spokesman for Sainsbury’s said delays were not unusual with planning applications of this type and the company
expected the matter to be resolved once the relevant information had been supplied to SLDC.
Debate over the out-of-town supermarket plans has raged for months, with many residents and traders fearing it would
destroy Ulverston town centre.
Concerns have also been raised about the suitability of the site for a supermarket and the potential flood risks of building on the land.
However, others have welcomed the plans, saying it would prevent trade from the town leaking to Barrow and other
surrounding areas.
Meanwhile, a formal planning application for a rival supermarket on the old Robinson’s brewery site is expected to be submitted in the near future.
First published at 10:16, Tuesday, 11 December 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk
Exactly how does calling people names reinforce your argument, Hoad Hill? I don't believe anyone is afraid of progress, just the potential for disaster that previous experiences of other developments and their associated knock-on effects have illustrated. Everyone old enough to remember it has fond memories of the old Barrow town centre, before the concrete men got stuck in, throwing up a monstrosity of outstanding ugliness, and pulling down a Victorian Market Hall that would have been the envy of much of the North-West if still standing today. Learn from Barrow's mistakes, caveat actor! If all you seek is cheap shopping, my sincere condolences. Some things are worth objecting to for the sake of continuity and posterity. Benny
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Ha Ha Ha,Benny Davidson.
Why keep trying,Barrow is the best-and you know it.
Its great entertainment you Ulverston lot-keep it up.
Posted by the dobester on 27 December 2012 at 19:28