A hugely controversial plan to create a McDonald’s restaurant off Fulford Road in York has been refused by council planners.
The fast food giant applied to convert the former Iceland shop into a 110-cover restaurant and takeaway in April.
More than 300 people objected and more than 3,100 signed a petition against the proposal.
Now City of York Council has made a decision on the application – and refused it permission.
Objectors gave many different reasons to turn down this McDonald’s, including the added traffic on Fulford Road, the fears that the car park – also used by Aldi – would become full, and the added noise, smell and litter it could cause.
But it is the impact on children attending the nearby schools that carried sway with the council.
In a written statement published today (Monday), head of planning and development services Becky Eades explained the reason for the refusal.
She said the new restaurant would be located on students’ commute to Fulford, Danesgate and York Steiner Schools. It is near bus stops that serve these schools.
That means the proposals would go against social objectives in the National Planning Policy Framework “supporting strong, healthy communities, improving health and reducing obesity and of supporting local strategies to do so”.
Her statement adds that a McDonald’s restaurant would also be contrary to a written ministerial statement from July “which states planning needs to promote healthy communities and help tackle the scourge of childhood obesity.
“There are no public benefits that outweigh this harm and planning permission is refused.”
In a recommendation for refusal, officers said that to grant permission for the restaurant would be “contrary to the promotion of healthy lifestyles and healthy weight by locating a large hot-food take-away in a highly visible and accessible location to a large volume of school children”.
More than 50 people supported the plan. McDonald’s have the right to appeal the decision to the Secretary of State.
Many Fulford residents welcomed the decision. One commented on social media: “Fantastic news for the independent food establishments and coffee shops… and for the traffic on Fulford Road that’s already rife.”
Another said: “Great result. There are more than enough McDonalds nearby if you have the palette.”
But not everyone was happy. One said: “Shame. I was excited for it. Me and a few lads at work were looking forward to get lunch there.”