THE decision on plans for the introduction of a Burger King outlet at a fuel station in Liskeard has been deferred to a future meeting.

Councillors on the east area planning committee of Cornwall Council debated the plans for the pod style outlet at Morrisons Fuel Station on the outskirts of Liskeard.

Liskeard Town Council had objected under Policy TC1B of the Liskeard Neighbourhood Development Plan, warning that the development could draw trade away from the town centre, contribute to further shop vacancies and generate additional car journeys.

However, Cornwall Council’s planning officers argued that the evidence does not justify refusing the scheme.

The proposed 93-square-metre outlet would occupy part of the existing Morrisons petrol station forecourt, replacing the jet wash bay and requiring changes to existing fuel infrastructure. The plans include eight parking spaces, a delivery bay and cycle parking.

A transport assessment forecasts six two-way vehicle movements during the morning peak and 10 during the evening peak. Cornwall Council’s highways officers consider the additional traffic negligible, noting that many customers would already be visiting the petrol station or supermarket.

The application’s retail assessment forecasts Burger King turnover of around £15,000 a week - approximately £780,000 a year. Combined with a previously permitted Greggs food-to-go outlet, the assessment forecasts turnover of £1.14-million in 2025, rising to £1.15-million by 2030.

Cllr Grey called the application in on the grounds of highway impacts and the potential effect on the town centre’s vitality and viability.

At the meeting, Cllr Kevin Grey, the divisional member for the area gave a passionate address as to why he felt it should be refused.

He was critical of the software led approach of modelling highway impacts, arguing that the reality of issues with traffic and access at the site contradicted this.

Cllr Grey said that at peak times and at the height of summer and in the build up to Christmas, traffic seeking to access the Morrisons supermarket and the adjacent fuel station where the Burger King would be located often backed up out of the junction and onto the nearby road.

He described the proposals as an overdevelopment of the site.

Other councillors asked whether the impact of the proposed closures of right hand junctions on the A38, adding traffic to the nearby roads of which the roundabout adjacent to the Morrisons supermarket was one had been factored into any highways analysis.

Members of the planning committee had wished to question the Cornwall Council highways officer for the area but he was not present for the meeting as he was on annual leave.

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Therefore, councillors voted on a motion to defer the decision to the next planning committee meeting where they would be able to question the highways officer in person.