SUPERMARKET giant Sainsbury's has expressed its disappoinment after plans for a new foodstore in Ambleside were recommended for refusal by Lakes Parish Council.

The council does not support the bid and its comments will now pass to planners on the Lake District National Park Development Control Committee for a final decision.

Speaking about the ruling, Sue Smales, Sainsbury's regional planning manager, said in a statement: "We're very surprised and disappointed that Lakes Parish Council has recommended refusal for our plans to bring a foodstore to Ambleside.

"Almost 70% of the feedback we've received from local people since our consultation events has been in favour of the proposals.

"Many have told us that they are tired of travelling to places like Kendal and Windermere to do their weekly shop, which, they say, can be expensive and time-consuming.

"We feel that the store would encourage people to shop locally for their main weekly food shop, helping to claw back some of the spending, around £7.5million a year, that Ambleside is currently losing to other towns. The development would also create up to 100 full and part-time jobs for local people."

"We are hopeful that the Lake District National Park Authority, which will decide on the application, will listen to the wishes of the majority of Ambleside residents when making its decision on the proposals.”

Councillors meeting recently said it would have an 'adverse effect on the character and appearance of the town, imperil the viability of local shops and affect traffic along the main A591'.

Local resident Hugh Wright told the Lakes Parish Council meeting that a Sainsbury’s store was not just creeping urbanisation but more like “leaping, galloping urbanisation”, which would ‘ruin Ambleside’.