CONCERNS have been raised about a potential traffic “nightmare” in a busy part of town ahead of a new fast food restaurant opening.

Barrow Council members have been working with Cumbria County Council in a bid to ease congestion around Hindpool Retail Park.

And more concerns have been flagged up, with a new Burger King restaurant set to arrive in the retail space, bringing further traffic to the area.

The fast food restaurant is due to open up in place of the former Frankie and Benny’s unit at the retail park, close to KFC, McDonald’s and the nearby Hollywood Retail Park.

Cllr Dave Pidduck, the leader of Barrow Council, said discussions had taken place with transport officials from the county council to reduce traffic problems around the site even before they learned of the new Burger King.

And now, he said talks would become more pressing as a Burger King franchisee prepares to take over the Frankie and Benny’s site.

Cllr Pidduck, a Hindpool councillor, said: “Travelling to the shops over that side of town can often be a nightmare.

“We are aware of a lot of issues with congestion and have been trying to work on ways to ease that congestion.

“Now with the new Burger King there is obviously something we should be looking at things more quickly.

“When that opens up there are going to a lot more people coming to that are of tow and most of them will be travelling in cars, so congestion could be even worse.”

Other occupiers on Hindpool Retail Park include Next, Cancer Research, Carpetright, Subway, Costa, Bensons for Beds, Poundland and Aldi.

Aldi is set to move out of its current store when its new supermarket opens at Hollywood Retail Park on Thursday May 16.

Frankie and Benny’s opened at Hindpool Retail Park in Barrow in 2013, creating 40 jobs, but closed three years later.

Greggs and Card Factory were due to move into the split unit but now Burger King will take over the entirety of the site.