Babergh planners today approved an application to build a Starbucks Drive-Thru alongside the A1070 at Weaver's Meadow by eight votes to two.

The overwhelming approval came despite objections from Hadleigh ward councillor Kathryn Grandon, who is on the planning committee, and ward member Simon Dowling.

Hadleigh Town councillor Bill Wilson, who lives close to the new Starbucks' site, also spoke against the application, which will bring 20 new jobs for local residents and investment into the town.

Clerk Wendy Brame told the committee the town council objected to the proposal.

Drive-Thru at Weavers Meadow (Picture: Strabucks/Babergh)

Cllr Peter Beer propped accepting the planning officers' recommendation to approve the application made on behalf of Starbucks by agent Darren Burney, whose company bought the site from Babergh and will be the landlords.

Cllr Beer praised the thorough report by Babergh officer Vincent Pearce, which he said had addressed understandable concerns by residents.

During the debate Cllr Grandon argued Hadleigh was already blighted by serious anti-social behaviour and the unit at Weavers Meadow would make anti-social behaviour in the area even worse.

She also argued that the Starbucks on the edge of town, next to the by-pass, would give a bad impression of Hadleigh and affect existing businesses in the town centre.

However, it was pointed out that neither objections were planning considerations and not relevant.

Cllt Grandon failed to convince Babergh planners to refuse Starbucks investmnet

Cllr Helen Davies, the vice chair of the committee, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service after the meeting: "While we feel for the local residents we cannot refuse a planning application unless there are strong defendable reasons for doing and unfortunately there weren't in this case."

Cllr Simon Dowling, representing Hadleigh North, added: "This is sad news for the local people and businesses of Hadleigh, the people who will bear the brunt of an inappropriate development like this.

"I would much rather see this area used for the benefit of the whole town rather than just passing motorists."