Setback for McDonald's (From Stroud News and Journal)

Setback for McDonald's

GIANT hamburger chain McDonald's has suffered a setback in its plans to open in Stroud.

A question mark now hangs the company's plans to build a drive-through 80-seater outlet at Merrywalks.

Big Mac's future in the town looked secure earlier in the year when it was given the go ahead for the restaurant back in February.

But McDonald's has failed to meet one of the conditions placed on it by district planners. An application has now been submitted to Ebley Mill to vary a condition for pedestrian access which will determine whether the fast food chain goes ahead.

"It relates to the pedestrian access along Rowcroft Retreat," said John Langmuir, principal planning officer at Stroud District Council.

"In the original permission there was a requirement on McDonald's to remove the taxi rank and put in bollards.

"That went to a traffic regulations order committee where it was decided that taxis and pedestrians could both continue to use the road, albeit with a bit of traffic calming."

The proposal currently with the council asks for permission to go ahead with plans to build and scrap the condition, allowing McDonald's to put in a 6ft wide strip of green surfacing that would designate pedestrian access.

Extra street lighting and signs to warn motorists that pedestrians would be using the retreat would also be added.

The district council had to send out around 2,000 letters informing previous objectors and supporters of the situation.

The news spread fast. By Saturday, protesters were back in Stroud High Street collecting letters of objection, in the hope of getting a second bite of the cherry.

They told the News & Journal they had collected some 300 letters against the proposal during the day.

"McDonald's is trying to get round the obligations the council has imposed," said John Mayford, a spokesman for the protesters.

"I think it's a ridiculous suggestion that aims to please everybody but in fact fails both parties."

"It wouldn't provide adequate pedestrian access and it compromises the taxi drivers. "And I really don't think a green strip would make it safe for pedestrians."

A spokesman for McDonald's said the company would not be making the proposals if it was not a safe option.

"I think it's a safe and sensible solution to the situation," she said.

"Pedestrians currently use this alley anyway.

"This will make it much safer.

"The green strip clearly identifies pedestrian paths while wall-mounted street lights will make it safer on dark evenings."

She said road signs would also let drivers know pedestrians were likely to be using the street.

Taxi driver Ted Lane was unhappy with the proposal, saying it would pose problems for the town's cabbies.

"I'm not keen," he said. "And if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

He was not optimistic that the difficulties that have dogged development in Merrywalks would be solved any time soon.

"By the time they sort out everything we've been promised down there we won't need a taxi rank," said Mr Lane.

"Because there will be a helipad on top of the multi-storey car park and we'll all have helicopter taxis."