Ulverston protesters upset by Sainsbury's proposal
Last updated at 18:44, Sunday, 12 August 2012
CONCERNED residents have said amended proposals for a Sainsbury’s in Ulverston do not address the underlying problems.
The supermarket giant announced last week it has made changes to its plans following a public consultation.
But residents and business owners have said that by opposing Robinsons’ proposals for a supermarket in Brewery Street, the town has ended up with a much worse option – and it is too late to stop it.
Former district councillor for Ulverston Jamie Samson said: “If Sainsbury’s get the go ahead it will be the death knell for Ulverston.
“If Robinson’s had been allowed to develop its site it would have brought people into the town centre. Yes, there would have been some problems, but I believe the could have been overcome.”
David Gummers, who works at F Dickinson Footwear in King Street, said: “I don’t think it is a battle we are going to win and we are going to have to make the best of it.
“If Sainsbury’s is going to have free parking out there then South Lakeland District Council needs to level the playing field.
“How are you going to get people to come into the town centre?
He said at this stage it is more important to look forward to how the town will meet the challenges posed by an out-of-town supermarket rather than waste time complaining.
Mr Gummers added: “People can bang the drum and people can fight but it is not worth fighting battles you are not going to win.
“Fundamentally, the best thing to do is make it the best that we can. It is a shame there was such a song and dance about the Brewery Street site because that would have been the best place for the town – the objections were a bit short-sighted.”
Mr Samson said: “I am not totally for a large supermarket in the centre of town but by putting obstacles in the way for Robinsons we have opened the way for Sainsbury’s.
He mentioned that in some places large town centre stores have increased footfall and boosted trade at other local shops.
Mr Samson added: “I think that would have happened in Ulverston but if you are on the outskirts why bother going into the town centre?”
Sainsbury’s has given people until August 17 to comment on its latest proposals and says it hopes to submit a planning application soon.
First published at 13:10, Sunday, 12 August 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk
I have only lived in Ulverston for a few years, but just out of interest was there a strong reaction to the Co-Op opening in Ulverston?
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Mr Samson is right that the Sainsburys development would be bad for Ulverston town centre, but entirely wrong that objections to the Brewery proposal have allowed Sainsburys in. The Brewery plan has been halted because the developers knew their design would never pass standards set by English Heritage and SLDC's own heritage team. As far as we know, they will come back with a new plan. Meanwhile, Sainsburys started the ball rolling with their plans long before the Brewery proposal was withdrawn. What's more, there is ample evidence that allowing one supermarket does not stop another coming in, and even does the opposite, encouraging competition. Clitheroe is a perfect example of this. Ulverston has capacity for a medium sized town centre supermarket according to SLDC's recent study. If we could have a sensible, proportionate development on the Brewery site that would be fine, but it wouldn't stop Sainsburys wanting to build a supermarket too.
Posted by Jane Harris on 14 August 2012 at 13:45