PEOPLE in Ulverston got the chance to find out more about plans to revitalise a historic site in the town centre.

The derelict old Robinson’s brewery in Brewery Street could be given a new lease of life with a new 20,000 sq ft supermarket, with under-store car parking.

It would be the same size as the planned Sainsbury’s store, to the south of the town, a planning application for which was submitted to South Lakeland District Council last week.

Speaking at the exhibition at the Coronation Hall, Nigel Humphreys, Robinson’s pro-ject manager, explained how the plan, which would include revamping Brewery Street and Buxton Place car parks, came about.

“It started off with the fact that South Lakeland District Council said Ulverston needed some retail putting in to the old brewery site because we were moving out.

“We have built a new depot in Backbarrow, which works very well, so we now need to put this site in Brewery Street to some good use.”

Mr Humphreys said that they were meeting a need identified by SLDC for a supermarket in Ulverston.

“The main concern for English Heritage was to retain the look of the site, and that is what we have done,” he said.

“SLDC said this would be the most suitable location for it. I think we are creating a useful amenity for the Ulverston people and it needs to be somewhere that is the most convenient place for everybody.

“It is in the town centre - you can come along, park here, go in to the store and get your shopping, unload it in your car and then pop up Market Street and look round Ulverston. It will draw people into Ulverston and there is so much in the town for people that the supermarket isn’t doing, so we do not think it will take trade away.”

Elsie Wilson, who is in her 70s and has lived in Ulverston all of her life, was bowled over by what she saw.

“I think it’s fantastic,” she said. “I am impressed with the layout. It looks good and it is managing to keep the different parts of the old Ulverston in place.”

Steven Catchpole, of Croftlands, said: “I think this is exactly what should happen to the site. If something isn’t done to it soon, the site will just go to rack and ruin.”

Planning consultant Mike Gibson said: “We had a great response to the exhibition. People seemed positive.”