SOUTH Lakeland District Council's cabinet has voted not to support a plan for improvements to Ulverston's market hall fearing it would raise the public's expectations unrealistically.

Ulverston's Market Towns Initiative wanted to commission a business plan for "phased improvements" to the hall.

The plan, which would have been funded by the MTI, would also examine the hall's present income and footfall as well as assessing how the refurbishment could "raise additional trade and income."

But members of SLDC's cabinet voted not to endorse the plan, fearing that it would build hopes of a cash injection by the council into the project.

Speaking at the meeting, SLDC chief executive Mike Jones warned councillors that there was "no such thing as a free lunch."

He told members that endorsing the masterplan would "raise expectations" that the council would fund the project and at present it did not have the resources to do so.

Mr Jones cited ambitious plans, which had been recently drawn up, to improve the Stramongate Bridge area of Kendal.

"We have had an example recently of Stramongate Bridge. A beautiful environmental scheme was produced which we have no realistic expectation of doing and the public is saying why are you drawing up those plans if you cannot deliver them," said Mr Jones.

He also told members that they should be wary of outside organisations "parachuting" items onto their agenda.

SLDC leader and Ulverston councillor Colin Hodgson also voiced his support of Mr Jones's recommendations.

"We cannot afford to raise expectations for something that is quite a long way on the horizon," he said.

Coun Robin Brown said that it was unlikely the council would be able to give its backing to the business plan even in six months time saying that 12 months was a more realistic period.

"In six months I cannot see us having the capacity to spend one million or anything like it," he said.

Coun Janette Jenkinson, who is a member of Ulverston's Market Towns' Initiative, as well as chairman of SLDC, said that the MTI was "not expecting anything from the Council."

"It would be very disappointing if we could not do this but we have to take on board the capacity issues of this council," she said.

Members also voted to endorse the Ulverston masterplans - which would see dramatic enhancements of the town centre and canal area. They also voted to support an assessment as to whether the council could contribute to the cost of appointing a Canal Project officer.