Isle of Wight Council officers say plans for a ‘multi-million-pound’ McDonald’s restaurant should be refused due to it being ‘within walking distance’ of a local school.
The proposed drive-thru facility off Newport Road in Lake is due to come before the planning committee next Tuesday.
Officers also flagged its failure to meet ‘policy requirements on health implications’, ‘adverse impact on neighbouring property’, location outside of a designated town centre, ‘insufficient information on archaeology’ and the lack of a legal agreement for environmental improvements.
A Planning Statement written by Planware on behalf of McDonald’s says:
“The proposals provide the opportunity for McDonald’s to meet a long-standing requirement for a restaurant to serve this catchment area, to meet customer demand and introduce additional choice in the market.
“The proposed development represents a multi-million-pound investment creating jobs both during the construction and operation phases, resulting in many associated economic benefits for the local area.
“The proposal constitutes sustainable development on a brownfield site, in a commercial area, surrounded by similar and compatible uses.”
A total of 124 members of the public have signalled their support for the fast-food giant’s application, according to a planning committee report.
Grounds given include increased employment, the use of derelict land, added choice of convenience food, improving the look of the area and the development’s proximity to workplaces, holiday parks and residences.
Supporters also cited the food’s affordability, the project’s sustainable design and McDonald’s community engagement projects.
Thirteen people opposed the bid, however, pointing to rubbish generation, long-term health impacts in a deprived area, excessive unhealthy food provision in Lake, traffic congestion and the outlet’s poorly paid and low skilled jobs. Objections also include negative effects on locally owned businesses, possible lighting disturbance, failure to flag the development’s proximity to a school and access concerns.
The planning committee will meet at County Hall at 16:00 next Tuesday.
Drive through and convenience food so how can it be a “restaurant”?
Itˆs a transport café at best.
So it is further away from the school than KFC, but is deemed “within walking distance of a local school”. Funny they never said that when the planning for KFC was seeking approval! Make it make sense for goodness sake!
I agree, KFC is closer than the proposed McDonald’s. If those concerned are worried about unhealthy food provision, there is something called self-control.
A child can recognise whether something is healthy or not. If a child is addicted to McDonald’s, then it ought to be the parent who dictates whether they can or cannot have it.
Additionally, when I was growing up in the 1970s, no one had much money. Occasionally, a treat was a chocolate bar on a Sunday, or fish & chips once a month. Both had to be earned by doing chores around the house or by demonstrating progress at school.
Nowadays, I often see screaming children in a supermarket, which is soon softened when the kid is given a bar of chocolate, but the payment isn’t made until the empty wrapper is scanned at the checkout. Sometimes the parent doesn’t even pay for it.
To decline any development because it may impact a child’s well-being is nonsense, especially if it involves choice. No one is forcing you to go to McDonald’s, no one is forcing you to eat the high-calorie stuff. You have a choice.
I agree about the aroma, which comes from McDonald’s; however, such a stench also comes from KFC. As a fast-food establishment is already in operation, planning shouldn’t be denied based on stench, traffic, rubbish or obesity in children.
The Ryde McDonald’s drive-thr is a total shambles.
The idea of a drive-thru is that you collect your food and
then drive off
Not on the Isle of Wight, you have to park in a nbay or the
car park.
Ir is not safe for employees delivering the food to
vehicles in the car park.
Also the traffic going in and out of McDonald’s
builds up causing delays and impatient motorists
who are not going into McDonald’s drive on the
wrong side of the road.
McDonald’s Ryde is an accident waiting to happen
THERE IS NO TRAFFIC CONTROL ON THIS NUMPTY
RUN ISLE!!
I recently read that the Health Secretary is soon to launch
a new healthy eating policy that will affect supermarkets
etc.
So why allow more unhealthy fast food establishments
to open.
Also with the fat jabs being rolled out on the NHS
isn’t eating junk food defeating the purpose of the
jabs.
It’s not like both existing McDonald’s are within walking distance of schools…
These eating places seem to spreading on the IOW like a rash. But none in Freshwater or Yarmouth, I see. I expect they’e lovin’ that.
Goes to show, West is Best!
Sorry, but Council ‘Officers’, I presume within the Planning Department should not be making statements of this type at all.
As has been pointed out, KFC is closer to the School and no such comment was made then. What is all this waffle about not a town centre location and archeology?!?! Do the ‘Officers’ anticipate finding long lost Neolithic settlement or a never before know Ronan Villa? Nothing has shown up when the Premier Inn, KFC were built OR when works were carried out at Merrie Garden!
This smacks of corruption and bribery!
What a load of absolute rubbish! It’s an eyesore there anyway. People just love complaining because they obviously have nothing else to do, go for it McDonald’s we need more drive throughs. I bet there isn’t any objections on mainland??
The opposition to the new McDonald’s in Lake due to its proximity to a school seems exaggerated—especially considering that a KFC already exists even closer. If the concern is children’s health, education and self-control are more effective than banning options. No one is forced to eat fast food, just as no one is forced to smoke, and yet cigarettes are legally sold in supermarkets.
Projects like this can revitalize abandoned areas, create jobs, and offer more variety to consumers. Rejecting it for reasons not applied in previous cases shows a lack of consistency and underestimates people’s ability to make their own choices.