BOSSES at highways urged Barrow council to refuse permission for a drive-thru Burger King.

Documents obtained by The Mail show that Cumbria County Council expressed significant concerns about the proposed restaurant at the site of the former Frankie & Benny’s on Hindpool Retail Park.

Planning documents reveal the owner of the retail park, British Land, originally submitted an application to change the use to allow Card Factory and Greggs to open but ‘planning permission was not forthcoming’.

Highways officers have since withdrawn their objections following further suggestions from Burger King to mitigate traffic problems after a request from the applicant asked for slight variations to be made to the approved plans.

They originally said: "The traffic network in the immediate vicinity of Hindpool Retail Park is extremely sensitive to congestion and become rapidly congested at peak times.

"The Highway Authority has no option but to recommend refusal based on serious concerns.

"There are over 20 accidents recorded over five years on Hindpool Road, predominantly at the two roundabouts. These are mostly low speed slight injury accidents, but an unusually high proportion involve cyclists."

The council's planning officer Maureen Smith has recommended Burger King's request for variations be approved.

She said: "An amendment has been made in order to increase the length of the drive-through route, thus reducing the potential for queuing on the highway.

"The applicant has offered to fund £5k for off-site works, in the form of “keep clear” markings on Hindpool Road and adjacent to the roundabout serving McDonald’s to improve congestion in the area.

"The applicants have amended the layout plans to extend the length of queuing area within the site.

"As a result it is not considered that a reason for refusal on highway impact grounds could be substantiated at appeal."