Objections ranging from exploiting children to promoting car use have been received by BCP Council after a planning application for a new McDonald’s was submitted for a retail park in Christchurch.
Christchurch Retail Park owner St James Place Trust has applied to demolish the current Pizza Hut restaurant and build a Drive-Thru McDonald’s, which would be around 50% larger than the existing building.
The size of the new building and Drive-Thru lanes would mean a reduction in car parking spaces from 397 to 371, but a recent Transport Statement suggests peak demand on the site at midday on a Saturday is 283.
Locals objecting to the plan say McDonald’s would bring an increase in traffic, resulting in a potential hazard to the local school children walking to and from school. Litter was also the subject of many objections, saying McDonald’s would add to the problem.
Issues surrounding child obesity were also raised, saying the addition of a McDonald’s there would add to the national issue.
Also, one local resident quoted the McLibel trial from 1997 which says McDonald’s advertising and marketing strategies exploit children by using them as more susceptible subjects of advertising, to pressurise their parents into going to the restaurant.
The site is already home to a SUBWAY and Costa Coffee, (and Pizza Hut) and permission has been given recently to open a LIDL store and double the size of Home Bargains.
If the proposal goes ahead, it would be the second McDonald’s in the town, along with the outlet on Somerford Road.
A decision is expected by BCP Council soon.