Fast food giant McDonald’s has released this image of how its controversial new branch on Fulford Road in York would look.
It comes as the restaurant chain has put forward fresh arguments as to why it should be allowed to open in the empty former Iceland store.
The scheme has provoked a lot of opposition. Nearly 300 people have objected to the planning application, and a petition against it is approaching 3,000 signatures.
There have been 55 comments in support.
Most residents’ objections are centred around
- the extra traffic it would create on the already heavily congested Fulford Road
- parking – fears that the car park, which also serves the Aldi store, will become full and visitors will instead use the neighbouring streets
- the fact that the restaurant is closed to five schools, tempting children to eat unhealthily
- the added noise, smell and litter caused by the restaurant.
In a letter to City of York Council, associate director of planning consultancy Lichfields Daniel Gregg has responded to the concerns.
He insists that the store won’t cause traffic or parking problems, and that the firm “supports the promotion of healthier lifestyles” by selling salad, fruit and veg.
According to his letter, York needs a new McDonald’s because its other branches in the city are “trading at levels beyond their capacity”.
Mr Gregg writes that “the need for this planning application has arisen due to the need to relieve pressure on existing McDonalds restaurants elsewhere in York and the surrounding area, which are all trading strongly.
“Should permission not be granted in this location, however, McDonalds would need to consider other sites in the area, which could lead to further planning applications being submitted [for] less sustainable locations, which are primarily accessible by car (as opposed to the application site at Fulford Road, which is conveniently accessible both on foot and by bus).”
Residents have pointed out that there already is McDonald’s at the Designer Outlet 2.4 miles away, as well as the city centre branch.
Mr Gregg also claims there are “no outstanding transportation issues”. Under a traffic forecast commissioned by the fast food company, at the busiest time on Saturday, “there is still anticipated to be 24% spare capacity at the site access junction”.
“In practice, the majority of those visiting the new McDonalds would already be on the local road network, including Fulford Road itself, and would be ‘pass-by’ visits rather than new trips.”
Moreover, parking surveys “confirmed that there is more than sufficient parking to cater for any additional demand arising from the proposed restaurant and takeaway use, on top of that generated by the existing Aldi foodstore”.
A City of York Council highways engineer points out that the traffic survey “was undertaken on a Saturday when Queen Street was closed for the demolition of the Queen Street Bridge and drivers were requested not to travel into York, if possible, so traffic flows may have been lower than typically experienced on Fulford Road on a Saturday”.
Nevertheless, the council’s highway development control “concurs with the applicant’s assertion” on traffic levels.
You can read and comment on the planning application here.