A planning application to build a McDonald's and petrol station on the Norfolk-Suffolk border has been met with a strong reaction from the local community.

Diss Mercury: An application to build a BP petrol station and McDonald's in Scole has been submitted to Mid Suffolk District Council.An application to build a BP petrol station and McDonald's in Scole has been submitted to Mid Suffolk District Council. (Image: Archant)

The application, to build a BP Petrol station, associated sales buildings and McDonald's drive-through restaurant on land next to the A143/A140 roundabout at Scole, was submitted to Mid-Suffolk District Council by Aitchison Raffety on behalf of BP Oil UK Ltd in June. The 1.45-hectare site is currently an empty field.

The development would be accessed from a new slip road off the north-bound A140, with customers exiting onto the west-bound stretch of the A143.

If approved the development is expected to bring around 45 new jobs to the area, split across the petrol station, associated sales buildings and McDonald's restaurant.

But the application has been met with a mixed reaction from the community, with the proposed McDonald's attracting particular attention.

Online reaction suggests there are as many in favour of the application as there are against it.

Key concerns raised by those against the development include the increased amount of litter in the area the development may cause, increased traffic though Scole and Suston and the potential disturbance caused to local residents.

Roger Greenacre, the chairman of Stuston Parish meeting said: 'We're opposed on a few grounds, I'm concerned about the litter and the potential for noise.'

On the Diss Community Noticeboard Facebook page more than 90 people responded when asked how they felt about the proposed development, many were in favour of the application and particularly welcomed the idea of a McDonalds.

Danni Davies from Diss said; 'Being 19, I'm totally OK with a more local McDonald's but at the same time I understand why people are against the idea.

'I think it's a good idea in terms of creating new jobs and somewhere for teenagers to go.

'However it could affect traffic, residents of Scole and cause a potential litter problem.'

Where as Andre Ling said: 'Diss has enough fast food places and petrol stations. It would create jobs but possibly only off the back of other jobs being lost.'

The planning application can be viewed on the Babergh and Mid-Suffolk website.