Angry residents near a proposed new service station and McDonald's drive-thru claim the planned development will be a blight on their village.

The World reported in January how Leeds-based Impero Development Management LTD had submitted plans for a development on land off Rocksavage Roundabout between the A557 Weston Point Expressway and Weaver View in Runcorn, adjacent to Junction 12 of the M56.

It would include a drive-thru McDonald's and petrol station which the scheme’s designers say would create almost 150 jobs. But one resident of nearby Clifton Village - who did not wish to be named - said they fear the impact on the area.

She said: “We are classed as a village, but with only around 40 voting residents, we are closer in size to a small hamlet.

“We are a very close community of neighbours, however, and should this application go through it will have a tremendous effect on all our lives.”

She also raised fears over the impact of rubbish from the drive-thru on the nearby area.

She said: “Added to our concerns for this current planning application are the obvious issues of rubbish not being able to be properly managed and contained by the proposed facilities/services on a 24/7 basis, leading to fast food wrappings and all kinds of other rubbish being left lying around and taken in the wind, further degrading our beautiful village, which is often used by ramblers and walkers, not to mention those visiting the adjacent Runcorn Rowing Club.”

Another resident added: “We are going to be severely impacted should this application be approved, but the implications reach a far wider area than our small village.

“Considerations include the safety of the public using the main road and cut-through roundabout as entry and egress point to access and leave the proposed services will, for a certainty, leave vehicles in live lanes when the lights change in an already very complicated road arrangement which will disrupt everyone using Junction 12.”

The developers could not be reached for comment, but a design and access statement submitted in support of the plans, said: “The position of this site makes it a perfect choice for a roadside uses scheme, comprising a petrol filling station and fast food drive thru."

The site is currently partly developed as a wood yard and storage facility, with the remainder being agricultural grazing land. There are currently a number of temporary storage buildings dotted around the site.

In addition to the drive-thru and service station, there would also be an ATM and electricity substation, as well as charging for electric vehicles. The design and access statement, added: "There is increase demand for electric car charging facilities nationally, the provision of these facilities will be welcome.
"The design has allowed significant future expansion of this facility when network capacity can be viably increased.”

The plans can be viewed on the council planning portal under the reference: 23/00018/FUL