Drive-thru turned down over roads concerns

The multi-national company, known for its coffee and donuts, wanted to convert the vacant Frankie and Benny’s restaurant in the Battlefield area of Shrewsbury, bringing around 40 jobs to the town.

But the plans sparked concern that the drive-through element could lead to queues spilling out onto the main road.

Shropshire Council planners have now rejected the application.

The decision notice issued by the council said: “It has not been satisfactorily demonstrated that the internal operation of the ‘drive thru’ facility in association with the restaurant use of the building and adjacent children’s nursery would not have a detrimental and adverse impact upon the safe and efficient vehicular access into and out of the site from the A5112 Whitchurch Road.

“As a consequence it is considered that the proposed development and internal vehicle movements would be likely to lead to vehicle conflict onto Whitchurch Road to the detriment of traffic movement and highway safety contrary to (planning policy).”

The council’s highways department had objected to the plans, along with Shrewsbury Town Council and one member of the public, though there was also one public letter of support.

Highways consultants WSP, on behalf of the council, said the proposed drive-through queuing space was insufficient.

They said queues spilling out onto the road could pose a safety risk, with “frustrated drivers undertaking inappropriate manoeuvres”.

In response, transport consultants Via Solutions Ltd, on behalf of the applicant, carried out a traffic survey at a similarly sized Tim Hortons restaurant near Glasgow to establish estimated queue lengths at peak times.

This led to the plans being amended to provide more space for vehicles queuing for the drive-through.

However the changes failed to satisfy highways officers.

Highways manager Mark Wootton said: “I consider that there is a fundamental issue here in that there is inadequate vehicle penetration into the site and potential vehicle conflict at the access point that could lead potentially back onto Whitchurch Road, which is an important and strategic traffic route into Shrewsbury.

“It is difficult to see how this issue can be overcome without a substantive rethink of the layout and vehicle circulation, but clearly the current building footprint is the dominant constraint in this regard.”

The applicant may now choose to appeal the refusal, lodge a revised application or drop the proposals altogether.

Tim Hortons bosses said in October last year that they wanted to create up to 2,000 jobs and open in “every major city and town” in the country over the next two years.

The planning application for change of use of the old Frankie and Benny’s was lodged with Shropshire Council in November, and Tim Hortons was revealed as the intended operator last month when documents naming the company were published to the council’s planning portal.