Plans for a new drive-through at a petrol station on a busy road have caused uproar among residents.

Motor Fuel Group wants to build the restaurant at the Brooklands service station on the A259, Brighton Road, Worthing.

If approved, plans would see the extension of the existing sales building to accommodate a new 'food-to-go' including drive-through, the removal of the car wash, the provision of two jet washes and relocated car care bay, reconfiguration of car parking, new bin store and associated works.

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Planning documents say the petrol filling station layout and access to and from the highway will remain the same.

At a recent Worthing Borough Council planning committee meeting councillors recommended the approval of the scheme subject to conditions including the amendment of plans to provide a roof to the waste storage area and to change the proposed opening hours to 7am to 10pm.

But residents have expressed fears the addition of the drive-through will exacerbate congestion on the road, which is considered to be one of the town’s busiest.

MP for East Worthing and Shoreham Tim Loughton objected to the plans after being approached by concerned constituents.

“I have been approached by a number of constituents who will be impacted by this development if it goes ahead,” he wrote in a letter to the council.

“I have also visited the site to see the likely impact and have many concerns if this development is allowed.

“I gather that this stretch of the A259 is the second busiest road in Worthing, second only to the A27, and adding a drive-through fast-food restaurant can only add considerably to that congestion.

“Residents in the area are also very concerned about the likely impact on litter which is already a problem in the area as well as cooking smells.”

Objecting to the proposals, Peter Barnes, of Chester Avenue, Lancing, said traffic is already bad in the area due to the garage.

“I am extremely concerned at the likely increase in traffic especially turning into this garage from the west travelling towards Worthing,” he said.

“Traffic turning into this garage from the west already causes significant disruption to west travelling traffic and tailbacks into Lancing.”

Dr Katie Piatt, of West End Way, Lancing, said she was “extremely troubled by the potential increase in traffic”.

“The current traffic flow past this garage already creates substantial disruptions and confrontations, leading to significant tailbacks into Lancing.”

Janice Kordek, of Seamill Park Avenue, Worthing, raised concerns about litter.

"I am constantly cleaning the litter that stems from the BP garage and the Costa cafe and which ends up in the private lane adjacent to the garage, Brooklands Park and onto the Brighton Road and surrounding areas," she said.

"I firmly believe that a major concern will be the increased amount of litter pollution and traffic that will stem from the proposed facility."

JMS Planning and Development said the plans will “enhance the site’s offer”.

“It is considered that the application is of significant merit as it upgrades and extends the existing sales building on site providing a ‘food-to-go’/hot food takeaway offer including a drive-through element, removal of existing car wash, plus new jet washes and car care facilities.

“The proposal is in accordance with policy which recognises that businesses need to be flexible and adaptable, particularly in these uncertain times.

“The proposed extension has been discreetly located off the rear of the sales building, adjacent to the adjoining car park, so has limited visibility from the street scene, replacing an existing car wash of a similar height.

“A noise report has been submitted with the application which confirms the proposal is acceptable in noise terms.”