A PROPOSED coffee shop would be of no benefit to the community or commuters, a councillor has claimed.

Plans to open a Costa Coffee next to the KFC in Preston New Road, Mellor Brook, will be debated by South Ribble Council’s planning committee after being recommended for approval by council officers.

But residents have sent letters to the council complaining there would be an increase in traffic to the site, off a busy main road.

They have also said that there would be insufficient parking and that it would impact on the access to the proposed enterprise zone at BAE Systems.

Coun Barrie Yates, vice-chairman of Samlesbury Parish Council, who also represents the area at borough and county council level, said he was against the proposal.

He said: “It will put extra traffic on a very busy road and make it a danger to come out of the car park.

“When the KFC was extended they said the extra building was for storage, but now they want to turn it into a Costa.

“This makes me worry that we will get a further application to build a new storage facility for the KFC at the back, which they can’t do because of the greenbelt.

“So where will they store their stuff? This will be of no benefit to the local community or anyone else because there are coffee facilities at the garage near the motorway.”

If approved at the council meeting on Wednesday, four full-time and eight part-time jobs will be created.

Planning agent Alison Roland said: “In terms of parking, the site offers 36 parking spaces including two disabled bays.

“This is more than adequate to cater for the KFC and proposed Costa Coffee unit.”