Drive-through times two (From Stroud News and Journal)

Drive-through times two

MERRYWALKS could end up with two drive through restaurants if planners give the schemes the green light.

McDonalds' application for a burger bar in the Stroud street has already been dogged by controversy.

But now a second application for a fast food drive through has been submitted - this time by Streetlands Ltd, owner of the Merrywalks shopping centre and adjoining multi-storey car park.

"The application is to convert the existing filling station on the ground floor level of the car park, which has been redundant for some time, into a drive-through restaurant," said Patrick Franks, Streetlands' architect.

The scheme would also see extensive modification to the car park itself with an access ramp leading from Bath Street over the top of the shopping centre and onto the roof level of the car park.

Vehicles would then exit the car park onto Rowcroft Retreat. Mr Franks denied the application had anything to do with McDonalds plans to move to Stroud.

"It's nothing to do with that," he said. "McDonalds have looked at it in the past but they decided to develop their own application."

He said several operators had shown interest in the site but did not want to be associated with it until planning permission had been granted.