PLANS to change the face of a Tynedale town have been branded limited and unimaginative by its town council.

A proposed petrol station, two drive-through restaurants and a two-storey hotel have been put forward to rejuvenate the dilapidated land at the Hadrian Enterprise Park in Haltwhistle

However Haltwhistle Town Council has raised concerns over the proposal.

Councillors decided that employment opportunities for the Haltwhistle community would be limited due to the proposed development’s location near the A69.

The council said income for the town generated by visits from overnight guests to the proposed hotel was likely to be minimal and a reduction in employment opportunities elsewhere in the town could be expected.

The short-stop and overnight visitors the planned hotel would attract would have little impact on the level of tourism in the area, the council said.

M&L Richardson,who own two service stations at Henshaw and Low Row on the A69 also raised concerns about the proposed development’s impact on existing businesses and Haltwhistle town centre.

An objection statement said the addition of a petrol station could “significantly undermine the viability of these existing businesses.

“This would potentially put existing jobs at risk. These jobs are in smaller communities where there impact would be felt at a greater level.”

Chemical manufacturer Kilfrost, located at Albion Works, raised concerns regarding how the development would affect access to the existing Kilfrost facility from the A69.

Objecting to the planning application, the business said: “The proposed development would result in the loss of employment land and has the potential to jeopardise the ongoing employment operation through the potential loss of access to the A69.”