DOZENS of jobs could be created in Witney by a new Travelodge hotel and drive-thru Costa Coffee, which it is hoped will provide a boost to the town's economy.

The scheme, which if approved could be complete by late 2018, would see the 72-room hotel and Costa built by the roundabout where Ducklington Lane meets the A40 south of the town.

But while many have praised the contribution such a scheme could make to the town – some have raised concerns over its potential impact on traffic.

West Oxfordshire district and Witney town councillor Duncan Enright said: “My first view is that hotel space is always welcome and it could be a good addition to the town.

“We do need to work out how easy it is for people to get into town from there. "When they built the Premier Inn [in Ducklington Lane] they upgraded a footpath.

"It will mostly be people coming to stay there because of the town and we want to make sure people can get in."

Mr Enright added that the impact on roads and traffic would have to be addressed by the developers.

The Hinton Group, which specialises in commercial development across the UK, floated its plans in the past week and a planning application is expected to be submitted to West Oxfordshire District Council imminently.

The scheme would see the construction of a four-storey Travelodge with a bar/café located in the south east corner of the site.

The drive-thru Costa Coffee would be part of the hotel building.

There would also be 78 parking spaces, a dedicated right turn access to the site from Ducklington Lane and a left-only exit.

The developer promises a positive contribution to the local economy.

It said the hotel and Costa Coffee would create an estimated 11 full time jobs and 18 part time roles.

A key feature of the site is its access to the A40, but some fear the impact on the town’s roads would be far from positive.

Mum-of-two Helen Thomas, who lives in nearby Colwell Drive, believes it could make a bad problem worse and raised concerns over the safety of drivers and pedestrians in that area.

She said: “I’m a pedestrian as well as a driver and that area is just an absolute nightmare – even before this has been built.

“Witney in general is already gridlocked at peak times.”

The 41-year-old pointed out that the nearby McDonald’s drive-thru showed the potential for what could happen.

She said motorists could often be seen queuing from the McDonald’s out onto the main road.

County councillor for Witney South and Central, Laura Price, like Mr Enright, saw the positive side of the scheme, but raised concerns over potential traffic issues.

She said: “I think that by and large the Premier Inn has made a good contribution in terms of employment.

“I would like to see more detail on the impact on traffic flow.

"The idea of a drive-thru coffee place does make me concerned, as well as the safety of people getting in and out of the site.”

Ms Price said she feared the financial contribution the project would make towards infrastructure may not be enough to outweigh the impact of the hotel and drive-thru.

The Hinton Group said its full planning application will include a full transport assessment which will ‘confirm the road network can accommodate the scheme’.