PLANS have been submitted to build a drive-thru fast food restaurant and a new retail unit in a busy commercial area off Darlington’s North Road.

The single storey restaurant and a separate non-food unit would be built on land that is currently being used as a car park for the B&M store, on Meynell Road, close to the junction with Whessoe Road.

The application submitted to Darlington Borough Council does not specify which fast food chain wishes to use the site.

Meynell Road, which leads to the car park of the Morrisons supermarket, is described by the applicant as ‘a largely commercial area’ which lends itself to development.

Councillor Fred Lawton, one of three Liberal Democrat ward councillors for North Road, said it was early days for the application but that he and his colleagues, Anne-Marie Curry and Alan MacNab, would be speaking to those potentially affected by the development.

He said the initial concerns were the large amount of traffic around the site and the potential for litter from the fast-food restaurant.

He said: “It is a busy roundabout between Meynell Road and Whessoe Road and also a busy exit from the car park at B&M, because Meynell Road has always had a lot of traffic.

“We would want that to be taken into consideration by the planning process.

“As Liberal Democrats we always talk to the people affected by such a development to find out their views and we will then represent those views to the planning committee if need be.”

Coun Curry also raised concerns about the amount of traffic on Whessoe Road and the risks for pedestrians, but said she liked the idea of a drive-thru restaurant in the north of the town.

A report prepared for council planning officials by the applicant notes that Meynell Road and Whessoe Road are “heavily trafficked”.

It continues: “The existing road network has recently been redesigned, which has generated a rejuvenation and our proposals will firstly add to this and enhance this the appearance of Meynell Road.

“It will also generate further interest in the North part of Darlington and create more business for the units in this locale.”