Sainsbury's at Hill Foot Ulverston

An interview with their representatives at The Lantern House earlier today:

The web site dealing with this proposal : http://www.sainsburys-ulverston.co.uk/

Emily who was interviewed in the above video encouraged us to get in touch with our queries by email.

Other stories on this issue:

Supermarket will kill town, residents claim

 Sainsbury's Ulverston Plan revealed

Businesses fear store will create ghost town

The latest from "Keep Ulverston Special" 

Something worth noting and not on the plan used in the above presentation
Look at the areas in blue. This means that Sainsbury is proposing that business units could spread in both directions and thus completely surround the Beehive cottages. In theory can't this area be reached by extending the work units at Lightburn Industrial estate.

Old Brewery/Supermarket Site

The public meeting was reported in the Evening Mail with a follow-up articles here - Brewery supermarket pledge and here - Business group backs supermarket battle

Here is a more complete draft of what happened at the meeting which will be updated shortly.

All views regarding this proposal need to reach the planning officer - Kate Lawson soon.

*       *       *       *       *       *

  Presentation
    •    Robinsons currently own 9 pubs in town: 3 are not open
    •    English Heritage say that the three cottages on Brewery Street have no particular importance but various features of the site were earmarked for conservation.
    •    The car park will have 105 space underground and 200? In SLDC car park
    •    There will no more traffic in town it will be retained on Brewery Street
    •    What will the back of the building look like?
    •    At the moment 112 vehicles per week go into the Brewery. The supermarket will need 6 to 8 deliveries a day (7x8=56) so less that is currently experienced
    •    Why?
    •    3 supermarkets are interested
    •    70% of food shopping is lost to Barrow, clawback
    •    Brewery is the only possible site
    •    Regeneration of the town
    •    More footfall in town
    •    Double the present car parking
    •    Jobs kept at Robinson’s (112 full time equivalent jobs at supermarket)
    •    Reduced travel by shoppers

Points raised at the public meeting on 21 st July 2011
    •    Jane Harris, Fountain St: The supermarket is not justified by the report of 2007
    •    Kerry Hutton, Market St: I am a researcher and the Southampton Uni Report gave a summary that was favourable to in town supermarkets but the £50 paid for the full report revealed that 42% of convenience trades thought that such a store would damage their trade.
    •    Mrs Wilkinson?: Why a food supermarket, why not sell  to a DIY chain or a store like Wilkinson’s
    •    ? Rydal Rd: Any clawback of food sales would only benefit the supermarket not the other shops in town would.
    •     Paul Kingsnorth, The Gill, Writer and Researcher: Town centre damage and loss of footfall is well documented (1998 Gov. report on the impact of superstores) Why should Ulverston be unique in not suffering damaged trade?
    •    ? Townside : (i) loss of lane on roundabout will mean a reversing of the improvement obtained by the road widening (ii) 2 hours free parking in the Car Park will not be enough time for people to go into town and enjoy the cafes and boutiques
    •    Maggie Hawk 1 mile out of town, used to be a trader in town :Opening Asda in Barrow and Booths had a detrimental effect on the town. Have Robinson’s considered opening up the area to luxury apartments, craft workshops and a Heritage Centre similar to the Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal? If not, why not? The building proposed is very ugly.
    •    Dr Richard Rowland: Has Mr Robinson considered the wisdom of the business decision?
    •    Doug Gillam, Tea Room :Road safety is a real concern as the rise in Brewery Street will obstruct a clear view of the traffic coming up Brewery St to people crossing at the junction of Union Street and Fountain Street. The traffic survey was done in the school holidays so the number of pedestrians may be very unrepresentative.
    •     Glen Rose, Croftlands: Has the consultation with the population come at the wrong place in the discussions? We should have been asked before planning application was submitted. We have one option in response : do not use the place.
    •    Jackie Williams, Sun Street :Is a high-end supermarket proposed? If so why?The answer suggested one of Tesco, Asda , Morrisons or Sainsburys!!
    •    Have compulsory orders already been issued by the Council for the cottages in Brewery Street ? Supermarkets are there for their own profits.
    •    Colin Picthall, Fountain Street: Weatherspoons will be a direct threat to the pubs in town should we join forces with Robinsons against their arrival?
    •    Sandra Buck?, trader in Town : The impact of the Bistro will be enormous It will devastate the cafes in town.
    •    ? Laurel Cottage, opposite the proposed supermarket: The vents for the refrigeration units will emit nitrous oxide into the atmosphere and will damage the health of people living nearby. No answers because the new “owner” will make certain choices that are unknown at the moment.
    •    David Myers: The Town will suffer as it has done over several years with many other changes.
    •    Helen Gilpin, Ainsley Street: Car parking is not adequate at the moment. Where will the staff park. What will happen to the water of the Beck and also from the well within the boundaries of the site?
    •    Back Hart Street: two cottages need to escape over the site in the case of fire. What precautions are being taken for access for this escape?
    •    Tina Henshal, Trader in Market Street: Can we stop this going ahead? Is it Yes or No? Answer you will get one out of town if you do not accept this one
    •    Councillor Williams :SLDC are generally passing all land for housing so why is the land not being sold for housing rather than this supermarket? Sale or lease? Answer The lease is more profitable
    •    ? Hart Street: Has the Car Park been sold by SLDC? Answer. No we have agreed to remodel the car park and use it. Also the Went is to be considered for improvements as part of the deal.
    •    John Lawrence: Which are the eight towns that have been studied for the impact on town centres? Answer: Haydock Cheadle, Gorton,? Shepton Mallet,Ilminster, Warminster,?.
    •    ? Burlington Street: When the work in the car park is being carried out where will all the cars go?
    •    Paul Millard: Why are talking about an out of town supermarket when there is no mention of it in the Development Plan? Answer: If you do not want this plan the supermarket might be placed at Swarthmore (Canal Head has been rejected).
    •    David Jackson, Dale Street: Will 70% of the shopping return from Barrow to the town…..what is the basis for the figure of 70%? Answer: A local survey was carried out by post and telephone (28. How many in the audience none have been asked about their shopping habits. None)
    •    ? Butcher’s shop in Town: Will you undertake to give jobs to all the shop-owners and their employees? Answer No
    •    Phil Johnson: Do you care about the Town or are you just making money with the closure?
    •    See above 25
    •    Christine Johnson: You stood in front of the Heritage plaque in the Brewery Site. Have your values changed? Answer: My values have not changed but the economics have
    •    Confused of Ulverston, Fountain Street: Are the SLDC puling the strings on this issue? The planning is unclear the Car Park issues seem confused with the plan in as much as you are being allowed to alter it to your needs. What is happening to the water running under the Car Park and the Brewery Site?
    •    Will there be subsidence when the underground Car Park is excavated. Answer: there will be 3 metre foundations on the Hart Street side and we do not anticipate and hazards for the public.
    •    Steve Robinson, Laurel Cottage: The site was allocated for 15 houses in the Local Plan (re R256) Answer: SLDC told us, across the table, that this site was preferred for retail use

Note : there may be innaccuracies in the above - please help with corrections.

The Old Brewery - a rethink

It's good to hear that there's an active group which is meeting tomorrow that is concerned about this issue.

It is complex.

I suspect that there is a need from a substantial number of people who live in Ulverston for a low cost supermarket as an alternative to Booths.

However the above location is definitely not the place for it.

I was wrong to think that a modern supermarket could work alongside the existing shops we are talking of chalk and cheese.

This proposal requires the use of the space of the present Brewery Street Car Park which is vital to the small shops in the town: the underground car park in the proposal only caters for 100 cars.

I agree with the writer in the Evening Mail that the creation of a modern supermarket on this site would be a disaster for the image of the town. There is so much potential for the attractive use of this space with the old buildings that are here.

Far better for the town in the long term would be to increase the attractiveness of this area which is what visitors will first see of our town centre as the approach on the A590.

Far from encouraging a dominance of cars in this location, would it not be far more attractive for locals and visitors alike to be able to enjoy the Town Beck as it travels unseen below this space? Surely we should be opening up the beck, planting some trees beside it and encourage people to enjoy this part of town at their leisure.

This site has so much more to offer the town particularly in well designed small houses and accomodation for the young and old who already live in the town.

Quality of life is one of the most important things that Ulverstonians can have in these depressing times.

Old brewery site

I've a lot on my plate at present.

I'm still sorting out my thinking on this issue. So far:

1. If the opportunity to use a Sainsburys Store presented itself in Ulverston - I'd use it. Superstores are a great convenience for people living full lives - they are a part of modern life and have many advantages.

This is not to say that we can't have and improvement on the Superstore model where the small business is promoted - a glorified and modern indoor market concept. Let's be ahead of the game for a change - not following a country trend.

2. No planning application has been submitted for this proposal - they are just testing the water.

3. The presention they have made is just gloss and meant to impress - it gives no information about important details. The most important for me is the Car Parking proposal.

a) It would appear that the phrase "underground car parking" is just a gimmic and in fact there is very little.
b) The existing Brewery St Car Park is being taken over . Something the SLDC may see as a source of funds. This would be disastrous for local shops.

The car parks in the town are not being used effectively because they are vastly overpriced. The town does need car parks that are cheap - this will help our Market on Thursday and Saturday.

What we desparately need is some leadership in tackling the issue of cars in Ulverston. The Ulverston Town Council need to take this on but we don't have any councillors with the determination to do so. The present situation is a mess and is assisting the trend of shops all over town closing.

We need councillors with balls not just load mouths.

What will happen at the elections next year - I suspect at least two new SLDC councillors will be needed : to replace Brian Wilkinson and now Colin Hodgson; both are suffering from poor health.

Good candidates please step forward. I'll do all I can to support you.

I doubt that my health will enable me to run and continue the projects I'm already involved in.

The brewery site (continued)

One can learn a lot more from this site

It would appear that the main source of parking is the existing car park on Brewery Street.

I could find no clear information about the underground car parking that was talked about.

The presence of the latter and its size is for me a crucial issue. We already have major problems in the town with parking facilities: it is important that any new development would not add to our problems.

We need to continue to be a shopping friendly town in every way possible.

I have used the contact facility on the above site to ask the following questions and await answers which will be published here:

"What is the size of the Underground Car park that you propose?

Could you give more information as to what physical changes to the Brewery St car park are proposed?


From your drawing it would appear that part of it will be excated to provide access to the underpass entrance to the store.

What price structure for the car park is envisaged? Will your customers get free parking? What prices for those that use the underground car park?

Can more detailed plans be seen elsewhere?"

I have also writen to SLDC planning department for information regarding detailed plans.

New use for Hartley's Brewery site

The proposal described here has a lot of merit - the main one being that it proposes an underground car park.

This is the thing that needs to be encouraged and be a condition of expansion of this site - it needs to be as large as possible and not be a token gesture in order to win planning permission.

All the small businesses that offer spicialised services in the surrounding streets (the massage parlour !) could then benefit and pressure would  be taken off existing car parking facilities and maybe even encourage the SLDC car parks to charge less -

What's needed of course is for the Town itself to take charge of car parking, our market, our roads and the whole commercial set up in Ulverston - some co-ordinated thinking needs to be put in place with a vibrant group of businessmen (women of course) with adventurous thinking to put Ulverston back on the map where it belongs.

The present leadership is sadly lacking - who will have the courage to take an overall view and bring all our interests together. I can think of only one person at the moment who fits the bill and he is very much involved up in running his own successful business. (It would never-the-less be good to have the benefit of his - and people like him - sound thinking - perhaps an Ulverston Think Tank - that is listened to)

What are the negative things that could happen?

Tesco could move in but then we could have an alternative - like Sainsburys.

The Coop could find it more difficult - though judging from the present friendly and popular service they would carry on as normal.

We have a busy road to cross - Brewery Street a pedestrian overpass would be ideal.

What are your thoughts?

Could the large traffic island nearby be put to better use? - a cafe in amongst the trees with glass shielding to protect from the noise and traffic fumes - another pedestrian over/under pass which also links to the other side of the A590.

These all need to be fed into the existing planning consultation that is happening at present. Will anyone get forward thinking people get  involved  or will Ulverston continue to die a slow death as is taking place up till now.

Come on James Airey (County, District and Town Councillor - new leader of the local conservatives) - you're ideally placed - show us some leadership.

(no, just to clarify, he's not the person I was thinking of above)