Laurel and Hardy and the Sons of the Desert are at the heart of Bowler Dessert magazine and Bowler Dessert Online

Ulverston petition

Keep Ulverston special! Dear friends and Sons of the Desert, I am writing as an Ulverston resident to let you know that Ulverston is under severe threat from a planning application to build an enormous superstore on the site of the Old Brewery, and surrounding houses, many of which they would knock down. The first thing you would see would be a huge superstore (we don't know which, but probably Tesco or Sainsbury's).  We are proud to live in a town which continues to be quirky and different. We believe that Stan could still recognise some of the Ulverston he knew in our small shops, artisan businesses, locally-based cafés and suppliers. All this would change, we believe, if the enormous monstrosity of the superstore (right slap bang at the entrance to Ulverston) got built. It would, as all supermarkets do, change our local ways for ever, hoover up local businesses, wreck our High Street.  Many Ulverstonians are extremely concerned about the town and its impact on both our lives as residents, and the experiences of our friends from around the world who come to visit the town. We have got together and are currently battling the proposals. We believe it will turn Ulverston into a "clone town", ridding it of a lot of its individuality and closing down local, independent shops and traders. Our website, where you can find all the facts, is at http://www.keepulverstonspecial.co.uk. We are asking for your help in the following ways: 1. Go online, sign our petition, and please leave a comment - these matter. 2. Write a letter of objection to South Lakeland District Council. It's on the website in the "Do Something" section. 3. We think there may be a lot of benefit (and potential excellent publicity for our cause) in gathering the views of the Sons together in some kind of media campaign. We're thinking of some or all of the following: Quotes from key members of the Sons of the Desert, which we can incorporate into our press releases. A press release from yourselves (if you can do one from all the tents then great), with one or two named people who could talk to the press (perhaps with a photo or two). A staged event here in Ulverston, in full Sons of the Desert dress, which we could call local media to come and view and get broadcast. We have an experienced journalist here on our anti-supermarket team - Paul Kingsnorth. He would be very happy to draft copy for you, and advise you on anything you were prepared to do. We appreciate that making the trip to Ulverston is a lot to ask, and if this wasn't possible then either of the other options would still be fantastically helpful.  Could you publicise this, through your own tent and, if possible, others? And please get back to me with any views about how you think you may be able to help, if you can. We have only a few days to garner support from Ulverston lovers before the planning department at South Lakeland District Council considers it - all information on our website. Ceri Hutton