BATTLE HOTS UP IN DIY STORE DISPUTE
Published on 30/06/2006

HARRY KNOWLES

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BATTLE lines were drawn as objectors came face-to-face with the developer behind controversial plans for a Focus DIY store and garden centre in Ulverston.

The proposed £6m development on a greenfield site also includes auction rooms, an estate agency, offices and car parking.

The application, submitted by Wright Properties, came before South Lakeland council planning committee for the first time yesterday.

Planning committee chairman Paul Little gave the public the opportunity to speak at the meeting.

Among them was Stuart Klosinski, industrial development manager with Furness Enterprise, which opposes the plan.

Mr Klosinski said the success of Ulverston market town is widely recognised and 260 jobs have been created in the last three years through the market town’s initiative.

He said: “Our view is that this development proposed at Canal Head is a less viable option than manufacturing and high value jobs which would be attracted to the site.”

Mr Klosinski said an Fe survey of all main DIY and related companies in Ulverston revealed more than £2m of business would be lost if the development went ahead.

He estimated there would be 15 to 20 redundancies in three Ulverston companies and at least one would close.

Harry Knowles, chairman of the Ulverston Low Furness market towns’ initiative, said after the dark days of the mid-1990s when there were 35 empty shops, Ulverston was once again a thriving and exciting community in which to live.

Mr Knowles said: “All of us here in Ulverston have worked extremely hard to actually bring Ulverston back to a viable, strong local community.

“And it’s our opinion that if this development goes ahead it will severely undermine the vitality and viability of Ulverston.”

Nick Wright, commercial director of Wright Properties, said the development would provide up to 50 jobs.

SLDC councillors have deferred making a decision until a site visit has taken place.

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