SAINSBURY’S has lodged an application to build a new store in Ulverston – causing an outcry that it will ‘wreck’ the town.

The supermarket giant has submitted plans to South Lakeland District Council for to build a 20,000 sq ft store and restaurant, petrol station, car park, car wash and recycling area on the site off the A590.

The company says the scheme will create 150 new jobs.

But local campaign group Keep Ulverston Special claims building a supermarket in the town will damage the local economy.

Ceri Hutton, a member of the Ulverston group, said: “Supermarkets suck the lifeblood out of the town and the local economy for short-term convenience deliveries and cause long-term devastation and loss of vibrancy, jobs and money spent in the town.”

The group’s Facebook page states: “We’re hopeful we can fight this off. A new store on a greenfield site outside the town would wreck the local economy, and is against much local and national planning guidance.”

Jo Hawley, regional development executive for Sainsbury’s, said the feedback from a public consultation in May was ‘overwhelming’ support.

“Almost 1,000 people have taken part in the two rounds of consultation, with a clear majority indicating they are in favour of the plans.

“The changes we made to the plans as a result of feedback were well received at our exhibition in August, and to have over 80 per cent of respondents tell us they want Sainsbury’s to come to Ulverston is extremely encouraging.”

Mrs Hawley added: “One message that was clearly fed back to us was the desire for more choice in the town.

“A significant amount of people don’t do their main food shopping in Ulverston, meaning people are leaving the town every week to spend money in places like Barrow.

“People have said to us time and time again that as Ulverstonians they would like to do their shopping in Ulverston – and a new foodstore on this site would allow them to do that.”

Should planning permission be granted, the new store could be open by the end of 2014.