A plan to build a McDonald’s drive-thru, said to create about 120 jobs, is set to be decided by councillors following scores of letters from objectors and supporters.

The fast food giant applied for planning permission for the restaurant near Lidl on Yarm Road, Stockton, proposed to open from 6am to midnight with 48 parking spaces, six cycle spaces, nine trees at the entrance and a pedestrian link and crossing for customers.

The proposal attracted 47 letters of objection and 36 letters of support to Stockton Council, whose planning committee will consider the scheme on Wednesday, October 9.

Objectors raised concerns ranging from health, obesity, smell, noise, vermin, pollution, traffic, anti-social behaviour, litter and air quality to loss of privacy, impact on local businesses and house values, and the presence of Japanese knotweed.

They argued there were already “enough McDonald’s in the area” and many fast food restaurants, takeaways and dessert shops, and it would be “a magnet for anti-social behaviour” and a “nightmare” for residents, promoting unhealthy food near a school.

Comments in objection included:

“It is shocking to put this development so near a housing estate, the traffic congestion would be horrendous, with Lidl next to it… It would be a great mistake to ruin this site. Surely the council can find another developer that is not a fast food chain?”;

“This is an absolutely horrific idea. In the middle of a residential area between two housing estates is NOT the place to put a McDonald’s… This idea will be a complete headache for residents and I believe the negatives far outweigh any positives. Build it somewhere else that isn’t in such close proximity to people’s homes”;

“All this will do is cause misery for local residents. Local kids from far and wide will congregate in the already extremely busy Lidl next to an extremely dangerous crossing. We have constant people speeding and jumping red lights already, you add in traffic from a McDonald’s onto that, someone will get killed”;

“It completely undermines what the street patrol have done over the years. Patrolling at ungodly hours to protect our homes from thieves looking to take what they can. Even having knives thrown at them whilst doing so and being threatened”;

“I know of no McDonald’s in an affluent area, this will bring down the price of my home which myself and my husband have worked hard for. It is simply encouraging junk food consumption and unhealthy lifestyles. As a health professional it is only placing more pressure on the NHS”;

“Perhaps someone could explain why money is being spent trying to improve Stocktonians’ health & life expectancy, only for a fast-food outlet that is synonymous with unhealthy living [to] be allowed to open at all?”

Supporters said the plan would create 120 much-needed new jobs to the community with more in the construction and supply chain, improve food and drink choice, bring investment, boost the economy, regenerate an industrial area and unused piece of land, enhancing an “eyesore plot”. One argued it would take traffic from a congested area around the McDonald’s at Teesside Park.

One supporter said: “I love McDonald’s and to have one within walking distance of my home is fantastic. It’s actually handy being right next to the supermarket as well.”

Another in favour of the restaurant said: “The further development at the site can only be beneficial to the area. The Low Hartburn area has over 600 homes with families and I welcome the introduction of such a site to enable myself and my family to walk to McDonald’s and ultimately cut down on my carbon footprints.

“I strongly believe that there is a case of NIMBYism for those saying they don’t want it… Many of these purchased their homes when the site and adjacent site housed an abattoir and a plastics factory, a McDonald’s is a major improvement on that.”

Council planning officers said they found no reason to refuse the plan and recommended it for approval with conditions, saying the location was acceptable as there were “no suitable or available sites in the town centre or on the edge of centre”.

Highways officers said the traffic would have a “negligible impact on queueing and delay”, and “only two slight accidents” had been recorded at the junction which would serve the McDonald’s and Lidl in the last five years.

Environmental health officers considered noise, lighting, smell, air quality and traffic movements but also did not object.

Cleveland Police recommended good-quality CCTV, saying: “These types of premises have the potential to generate large amounts of anti-social behaviour, however, properly managed, with robust procedures in place, these issues can be significantly reduced.”

The council’s report concluded: “The proposed development will provide a range of economic opportunities, bringing an underutilised vacant brownfield site into active use and create around 120 jobs. The development will also attract additional expenditure and provide greater consumer choice within this area of Stockton.

“As a result, the proposal would deliver a range of social, economic and environmental benefits,” it states.

Planners said there were no grounds to refuse the plan on health grounds and there was no evidence the drive-thru would harm other shops, neighbours or the area’s character and appearance.