A supermarket giant’s plans to build a garden centre in Johnstone have been thrown out by councillors who branded them “ludicrous”.

Morrisons had applied to build the facility in the car park of its Napier Street store.

But at a meeting of the planning board this week 11 elected members voted to reject the proposals due to major concerns about congestion in the area.

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During the meeting, it was also revealed by Councillor Andy Doig that McDonald’s are in talks with Morrisons about building a drive-thru restaurant next to the site.

Councillor Doig said communities in and around Johnstone had been frustrated by the level of traffic for many years, even before Paton’s Mill retail park was opened.

Drivers regularly struggle to get out of the shopping precinct and Morrisons due to cars coming out of Johnstone town centre towards the A737 and vice versa.

“I completely refute the claim the road network is able to handle additional traffic,” said Councillor Doig, who tabled refusal of the plans.  “It can take 30 minutes at rush hour to exit the Paton’s Mill retail park or Morrisons and Johnstone High Street is one of three official air pollution zones in Renfrewshire.  “There is a history of community concern about congestion in this area. In 2015, four community councils made representations to this council about congestion and that was before the Paton’s Mill retail park was approved.

“I should also reveal if this application is approved, this will not be Morissons’ last roll of the dice. A few months ago it was revealed to me that McDonald’s – who have confirmed this – are in discussions with Morrisons about putting a drive-thru next to the site.”

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Councillor Doig was one of three elected members – alongside wife Audrey Doig and Emma Rodden – to request the application be heard by the board before any decision was made.

Convener Marie McGurk called for the board to accept the proposals but she only managed to attract three other backers.

As well as fears around traffic, some residents also insisted the nearby family-run Gowanlea garden centre would lose vital customers to the well-known chain if plans went ahead.

Johnstone councillor Emma Rodden added: “That section of road is like the Wacky Races at certain times of the day.

“My son is at high school and any time he misses the bus I have to take him into school and we are always late because it takes so long to get through those traffic lights.

“It’s the accumulative effect from all of the developments that have happened over the past few years. We’re just piling on traffic and the roads are not going to be able to handle it all.

“We need to take a stand. It’s ludicrous.”

McDonald’s confirmed it is in discussions with Morrisons but stressed talks are in their early stages.

A McDonald’s spokesman said: “We are currently looking at a number of sites across the west of Scotland, including Johnstone.

“A new restaurant would bring significant investment to the local community and create over 100 jobs.”