Plans for a new drive-through at a petrol station on a busy road have been approved despite uproar from residents.

Motor Fuel Group has been given the green light from Worthing Borough Council to build the restaurant at the Brooklands service station on the A259, Brighton Road, Worthing.

The plans will see the extension of the existing sales building to accommodate a new 'food-to-go' including drive-through, the removal of the car wash, the provision of two jet washes and relocated car care bay, reconfiguration of car parking, a new bin store and associated works.

Planning documents say the petrol filling station layout and access to and from the highway will remain the same.

Residents expressed fears the addition of the drive-through would exacerbate congestion on the road, which is considered to be one of the town’s busiest.

One objector was MP for East Worthing and Shoreham Tim Loughton.

“I gather that this stretch of the A259 is the second busiest road in Worthing, second only to the A27, and adding a drive-through fast-food restaurant can only add considerably to that congestion,” he said.

Conditions of the approval included that no development can take place unless and until full details of the means of extraction and disposal of cooking odours from the 'food to go' have been submitted to and approved in writing by the local authority and the food to go element and jet wash shall not be open for business outside the hours of 7am and 10pm.

JMS Planning and Development said the plans will “enhance the site’s offer”.

“It is considered that the application is of significant merit as it upgrades and extends the existing sales building on site providing a ‘food-to-go’/hot food takeaway offer including a drive-through element, removal of existing car wash, plus new jet washes and car care facilities.

“The proposal is in accordance with policy which recognises that businesses need to be flexible and adaptable, particularly in these uncertain times.

“The proposed extension has been discreetly located off the rear of the sales building, adjacent to the adjoining car park, so has limited visibility from the street scene, replacing an existing car wash of a similar height.

“A noise report has been submitted with the application which confirms the proposal is acceptable in noise terms.”