FEARS have been raised that a proposed new drive-through branch of Starbucks on Portland would lead to discarded rubbish at the site - while critics have suggested the site be used for an independent business instead.
Two commercial buildings - one made up of five units and another of four units - would be built on the eastern section of the site to be occupied by commercial and storage and distribution businesses.
The Starbucks drive-through would be visible to motorists off Hamm Roundabout and near to the Lidl supermarket.
The applicant feels that this development proposal would bring investment into Portland by building on a vacant site and create a 'significant economic benefit to the local area including through job creation'.
While some residents have praised the proposals as 'another brilliant investment for Portland', others have raised concerns.
Stephen Mason has listed five reasons why the plans should be rejected, fearing its impact on traffic and pollution, as well as concerns about waste.
He said: “There will be a significant increase in discarded rubbish around the area.
“The development is not in keeping with the local area and will be blight on the landscape of an area of natural beauty. The development will negatively impact upon local businesses and 'non chain' cafés.”
Mr Paul Chakrabrati said that while he backs plans for nine business units, he feared the drive-through coffee shop would spark increased traffic and pollution in the area.
He said: “The site is on a road where - despite double yellow lines being put in place - cars are continuing to park in the area often on the pavement and overlapping the kerb.
“Any delays at the drive-through could result in traffic backing up on to the road - now a bus lane - as has happened at other drive-throughs recently.
“Drinks and food containers are often discarded by users in the wider environment as some users have not learnt how to dispose of rubbish in a bin.
“A café at this site would be good - nice to have tea or coffee out of a real mug or cup and saucer - provided it is not a drive-through and does not risk blocking the now busy road near the supermarket entrance.”
Ms Lorraine Burchell also feared a potential litter problem – but also questioned why an independent café wasn’t invited to open at the site.
She added: “I strongly object to this proposal on the grounds it will cause tremendous amounts of unrecyclable waste. Because it’s a drive-through this waste is like to get blown around and pollute the environment.
“A local small café/coffee independent would be of much greater benefit to the area.”
The criticisms come after sailing and watersport businesses in the area shared their concerns about the development’s possible effects on sailing activities in Portland Harbour - an internationally-renowned site for watersports where the 2012 Olympic sailing events were held.
One critic voiced fears the buildings would cause 'erratic winds' that would 'likely to cause significant turbulence to the flow of wind across this sailing area and therefore negatively impact the area's suitability to introduce persons of all ages to the various water sports on offer'.
If approved, it would become the second Starbucks in the area after the coffee giant opened a similar drive-through branch next to Aldi in Chickerell. The branch, which opened in May 2019, created 14 jobs in the area.
The planning application comments the business development would boost the local economy and attract people to Portland.
It reads: “The drive-through coffee shop is not a use which is specified within the Local Plan.
“It is considered that this proposed use would complement the local uses, serving those in the vicinity for shopping, working or leisure uses. It is considered that it would be an appropriate use to add to the mix of retail, business, leisure and residential uses in Osprey Quay.
“Clearly the proposal will have a visual impact on the character of the locality moving from an open undeveloped site to one which was developed.”
Comments on the application are invited via the Dorset Council website. Search for application number WP/20/00705/FUL
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