By Julian Whittle

Last updated at 14:30, Wednesday, 26 September 2012

Any hopes of saving the Burger King restaurant in London Road, Carlisle, look to have been dashed.

Burger King, Carlisle

Carlisle City Council planners have approved a planning application to demolish the fast-food outlet to extend the car park at St Nicholas Gate Retail Park.

The 26 staff there had launched a petition for customers to sign in person or online, which attracted more than 1,000 signatures before bosses told them to stop.

They had hoped to prevent the demolition or, if that was impossible, persuade Burger King to open premises elsewhere in Carlisle. The company has not said what will happen to staff when the restaurant closes, probably early next year.

A spokeswoman said: “We are in discussions with the landlord and local council about the proposed demolition plans for the St Nicholas Gate Burger King.

“For the time-being it’s business as usual for our crew and customers.”

The retail park belongs to the Post Office pension fund.

Its trustees want to knock down Burger King to create extra parking spaces in readiness for a supermarket opening at the northern end of the park.

The planning application was lodged by the pension fund’s agent, Savills of Manchester.

Savills will exercise a clause in the lease to evict Burger King after three months’ notice.

The aim is to increase the number of parking spaces at the northern end of the retail park from 164 to 220.

Savills’ planning application said: “Removing the [Burger King] unit will enable additional car parking spaces to be provided, which are a critical requirement of the proposed new anchor tenant.”

The city council agreed in June last year that three units at St Nicholas Gate could be made into a 46,300sq ft supermarket, potentially creating between 150 and 200 jobs.

Savills did not have a tenant, however, and has remained tight-lipped about negotiations with potential occupiers.

Industry sources believe Asda is the most likely candidate.

First published at 11:30, Wednesday, 26 September 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk