Published at 17:21, Tuesday, 10 July 2012
MORRISONS has revealed plans to open a store in a Lakes town.
The supermarket giant has submitted a planning application to South Lakeland District Council to open a store and operate an alcohol licence in a former furniture shop in Main Street, Windermere.
Within 24 hours of the application being submitted on July 6, a Facebook group opposing the new store had been set up and by Monday had attracted 365 members.
However comments on the page were balanced with several people arguing in favour of the proposals.
Anthony Dean wrote: “We are a small town and already have more than enough grocers.
“If they are allowed to go ahead with this project then it will be the beginning of the end for many shops and local traders who are already finding things very difficult.”
According to the application, the new store would be licensed to sell alcohol between 6am and midnight seven days a week.
Adrian Faulkner, secretary of the Windermere Chamber of Trade, said: “Let’s wait and see what the plans are – I think the size and what it would be selling are important.
“It would be unfair for anybody to pass comment until we know exactly what they are doing.
“And there might be a possibility that if it does come off they might take over the garage next door but we do not know.
“And if they do not get their liquor license they might not open at all.”
But while some people have speculated online about the store’s impact on established traders, Mr Faulkner sees a positive side to the move.
“The good news is that it must bode well for the economy in Windermere,” he said.
“They would have done their research and they must have seen an upturn.
“Tesco did not do a great deal of harm round here – in fact it has improved a couple of shops that had to pull their fingers out.”
A spokeswoman for South Lakeland District Council said the application would only go before committee if objections were received.
The Evening Mail contacted Morrisons but nobody was available for comment.
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk
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