’Listen to the people of Douglas’ was the advice given by the leader of Douglas Council over plans for KFC and Starbucks drive through stores on Peel Road.

David Christian told the latest council meeting that the people who had contacted him over proposals for the two fastfood restaurants (18/00977/B) had been in opposition to the plans and he must represent their views.

Mr Christian was speaking after the council’s environmental services committee agreed that ’no objection be raised’ over the plans.

However, when the issue came to the council, members set out their objections with six voting against the recommendation.

Mr Christian spoke out against the plans because of the potential impact they could have on Peel Road.

He said: ’We’ve got to support business, but I oppose this because it will cause traffic problems on an already problematic road.

’People ignore the no right turn sign at McDonald’s, the island outside it causes issues and Peel Road is simply not designed for it.

’It is too close to a major junction and I will vote against approving the application.

’The residents are quite right to object to the plans as well, all the people who have contacted me have opposed it, we must listen to the people of Douglas.’

Councillor Claire Wells objected to the plans saying the outlets would discourage people from going to the town centre and negatively impact upon Douglas.

She asked councillors: ’Why aren’t we objecting to this?’.

The council eventually supported the committee minutes, including the recommendation to raise no objection by 11 votes to six with councillors Elizabeth Quirk, John Skinner, Claire Wells, David Christian, Helen Callow and Karen Angela voting against.

In committee only Councillor Natalie Byron voted to object to the plans.

She told the Manx Independent she did so because of opposition from residents and concerns over traffic.

Miss Byron was unable to attend so was not able to vote.

The highways division of the Department of Infrastructure has also raised concerns over parking and safety.

In an unsigned letter to planners, highways officers said the plan ’fails to demonstrate that the development would be safe’.

The letter added: ’It does not show that there would be no adverse traffic impact on the operation of the adjacent highway network.’

’It is unclear if there would be adequate site parking and it is unknown if there would be sufficient queueing space within the site from the two proposed drive throughs.’

Among further concerns is a lack of an assessment of the Peel Road/Pulrose Bridge traffic lights; only one delivery bay being proposed for the two stores; the impact of queueing from Starbucks drive through customers and external lighting from the site affecting Peel Road.