Hortons whips up more objections
Another councillor has added his weight to objections against a planned Tim Hortons drive-thru outlet in Motherwell.
Scottish Conservative councillor Nathan Wilson has submitted a formal objection to planners over the Canadian-owned chain’s Windmillhill Street bid.
The Motherwell South East and Ravenscraig councillor claims that the takeaway and coffee shop would worsen traffic congestion difficulties on Knowetop Avenue during school opening and closing hours at Knowetop Primary and Our Lady’s High School.
In his letter of objection, councillor Wilson also points to North Lanarkshire Council’s Local Plan – the key council document for assessing whether planning consent should be withheld or granted – and the transport assessment submitted by Tim Hortons as providing further evidence for rejecting the proposal.
Councillor Wilson said: “The building of a Tim Hortons at this location would only serve to worsen an already difficult traffic situation with congestion problems on Knowetop Avenue during school pick up and drop off times”.
“The proposed location of the takeaway is adjacent to a bad junction where motorists find it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to make a right hand turn onto Windmillhill Street at times of heavy traffic flow.
“The transport assessment submitted as part of the planning application actually makes the case as to why consent should be withheld by drawing attention to the increased number of vehicles that would be making use of Knowetop Avenue and acknowledging that school transport significantly impacts on the operation of the junction”.
Councillor Wilson reckons that the applicaton also fails a number of key benchmarks set out in North Lanarkshire Council’s Local Plan relating to safety and transport.
“I am not against a Tim Hortons opening somewhere in Motherwell South East and Ravenscraig but this is completely the wrong location,” he said.
We told last week how SNP councillor Agnes Magowan was “extremely concerned” about the proposal and has pledged to oppose it.
She claims at peak times in the morning, at lunchtime and at 3pm and 4pm, the area becomes a bottle neck.
“Due to this, I am extremely concerned about the proposal to situate a Tim Hortons drive- thru on the corner of Windmillhill Street and Knowetop Avenue with access directly across from Knowetop Primary School.” She continued: “The planning application states that Knowetop Avenue along with the majority of routes in the locale with the exclusion of Windmillhill Street have low traffic volume and speeds which provide a pleasant environment.” for pedestrians”, she said.
“Due to Knowetop Primary School, Our Lady’s High School, the garage and normal residential traffic from Dalzell Avenue and the surrounding streets, this is a very congested area.”
This is completely the wrong location adjacent to a bad junction