Divisive plan for town centre McDonalds is submitted

Divisive plan for town centre McDonalds is submitted

PLANS for a new McDonalds drive thru restaurant – proposals that have divided a town – have officially been submitted.

Last Spring, the burger giant revealed its intentions to open a new branch in Bingley town centre, on the former police station and magistrates’ courts site on Main Street.

Letters were sent out to residents of the town, and a website set up urging people to have their say on the proposals.

Now McDonalds has submitted a full planning application for the restaurant and a 24-space car park to Bradford Council.

A decision is expected in March.

The application says the restaurant will create 120 jobs (70 full time equivalent) and generate over £60,000 a year in business rates.

The application includes details of the consultation that was held last year – highlighting the mixed opinions of the plans.

It says 456 responses were received, and 46.3 per cent of people were supportive of the plans.

Those in support said the restaurant would add to the towns offerings, and bring a business into an area that has been vacant for years. Others pointed at the jobs boost for the town.

But many others raised concerns over added traffic, the impact on other town centre businesses and argued there would be an increase in litter.

Addressing some of the concerns, the application says: “McDonald’s has responded positively to pre-application feedback, ensuring the scheme responds to the local vernacular through use of natural stone, offers a building with a presence on Main Street, and incorporates a comprehensive landscape scheme which will soften the appearance of the development, enhance the wider town centre environment – and deliver on-site biodiversity net gain.

“The proposed development will bring a vacant site town centre site into active use and will result in a series of economic benefits for Bingley.”

When the consultation began in May, a petition was set up to try and block the development. That petition has so far attracted over 1,400 signatures.

The petition said the new restaurant would “undermine the unique character and identity of our town.”

It added: “Bingley’s proud identity lies in its traditional charm and vibrant local businesses, not in homogenised chains that can be found in any city across the globe, and increasingly our rural towns.

“The Golden Arches amidst the vista of rolling wooded hills and historic mill chimneys would threaten the loss of another town’s unique identity and speak only of growing bland ubiquity.”

The petition suggests the site could be used as a community garden, where young people could learn how to grow food.

So far the planning application has attracted 49 objections and 32 letters of support.