Ulverston supermarket plans will have ‘unacceptable’ effect
Last updated at 16:22, Friday, 08 March 2013
THOUSANDS more car journeys each day as a result of a proposed new supermarket would have an “unacceptable” effect on Ulverston, a leading expert has claimed.
In his report, transport expert John Whitelegg said plans to build a store at the former Robinsons brewery site would be “totally inappropriate”.
Professor Whitelegg, a lecturer at Lancaster University, was commissioned to do the report by Furness Enterprise.
His study estimated the store would result in around 4,700 additional car journeys each day and have a profound impact on the town, which is a designated conservation area.
Prof Whitelegg said: “It is simply not possible to overlay over 4,700 cars per day on this distinctive and rather special urban environment without destroying those special characteristics that informed the decision to create a conservation area in the first place.”
He said the resulting congestion along the A590 would lead to capacity problems and damage regeneration efforts in the area.
He added: “The proposed development will attract significant numbers of large lorries that are incompatible with what should be permitted in a conservation area.”
Prof Whitelegg’s report goes on to say claims by Robinsons that trade would be largely clawed back from Barrow – and a new supermarket would have little impact on town centre retailers – are unsubstantiated.
Keep Ulverston Special chairman and town councillor Colin Pickthall said: “This is very alarming and shows the potential for problems on the A590.”
Town councillors will get together to discuss the plans at a meeting on Monday evening. A decision will then be made by South Lakeland District Council at a future planning meeting.
It is understood both the Robinsons proposal and a rival supermarket application to build a Sainsbury’s at the Beehive are likely to be heard at the same meeting.
First published at 16:00, Friday, 08 March 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk
Well said Michelle King and Andy!
Apart from bringing Sainsburys to the Beehive site (with it's associated road improvements) the best thing that could happen to Ulverston is to get rid of those cursed, pointless traffic lights at Tank Square, that are worse than useless, verging on dangerous. WHO sanctioned an obscene amount of money to be spent on them and why? Madness!
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I am surprised that people of Ulverston and Furness give any consideration to attempts to get the last crumbs out of the town by a business that bought the local brewery company, acquired the name and market and then closed it down, making town residents redundant, presumably to exit the town on capitalising on this site. The competing Sainsbury proposals are at least honestly trying to bring employement and trade to the town.
Posted by oldoffcomer on 12 March 2013 at 14:47