Plans are rolling on to build a new drive-thru restaurant in Leek - and we now know that it is likely to be a Tim Hortons.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council are currently considering the plans and will make their decision at a later date.

The plans have not been without opposition however - Leek Town Council have recommended the plans for refusal - however the town council can only submit a recommendation and it is the district council who will get the final say on whether the plans are approved.

But what did you think of the plans? There has been a considerable public response with over 20 letters on the plans being submitted to the district council by local residents.

We have put together some of the public comments for you to have a read through and make up your own mind. There were also five submissions in support of the application, but they did not come with any comments.

Read what people had to say below:

Alison Yates: "Would cause unnecessary congestion on the main gateway in to Leek which already suffers from queuing traffic at peak times. The site is too small for any type of Drive Thru premises which will only cause traffic to queue on the main carriageway. Also concerned about the increase in litter generally created by these types of establishments."

Angela Balwako: "I believe a drive thru at this location will hinder traffic flow leading to problems throughout the town. Should cars queue for service in such a limited space the queue could extend into the main road hindering traffic flow.

"I also think at busy times for the drive thru access for cars coming up Mill Street and wanting to access the business by turning right will cause issues. The proximity to the turning for Belle View could near accidents at that junction as it will be easy to misinterpret left turn indication assuming it's for the drive thru when it is in fact for a turn to Belle View."

David Payne: "As the business owner that is directly opposite the proposed application, we feel it would destroy our small family run business. We've already struggled with Covid 19 and another fast food chain directly opposite would really hurt us as a small business.

"Mill Street is already chaotic enough for traffic as it is with out a drive through being approved. We seriously hope you take us into consideration when looking at this application. We feel this could finish us off for good and leave us in financial dismay."

Nena Selmes: "Leek does not need or want a fast food drive through restaurant. The town is well served with numerous food outlets. The application goes against the historic nature of the town and its environment."

Sally Perry: "Leek has enough takeaways already. Having this sort of restaurant will cause a lot of litter. Litter is bad enough in the town and surrounding countryside already. It encourages the use of single use packaging and there will be even more waste."

Teresa Quinn: "I am very concerned about that amount of litter that will result (I regularly litter pick). Traffic on Mill Lane is often queued and backed up into Leek and this will add to the problem."

Phil Hawley: "Presently the traffic on Mill Street at peak times is incredibly slow and often at a stand still. An increase in standing traffic due to a drivethru restaurant will lead to an increase in pollution (both emissions and noise) along with further difficulty for traffic moving through the town. There is also risk that traffic will be forced through rat runs going up Belle Vue Road or Daisy Bank to get through the town, increasing the risk of road traffic accidents in residential areas."

Sara Walker: "As a resident of Wesleyan Court, the plans submitted will mean that cars are at collection points next to the building, the sound, and the smell of cars idling will result in not being able to have the windows open in my flat, it will also increase the traffic and danger of said traffic. There is currently rats around the area due to food waste from the current two take always and a drive through will only add to that."

If you would like to view the application and all submitted comments in full, visit the application's page on the planning portal of the district council's website. The district council will have the final say on the plans at a later date.

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