McDonald's row is still rumbling on (From Stroud News and Journal)

McDonald's row is still rumbling on

AN AMENDED proposal for a McDonald's in Stroud will be resisted by the town council. The council's planning committee objected to new restaurant plans at their meeting last Wednesday. It refused to support the firm's proposal for Rowcroft Retreat - currently a taxi feeder street - to be used by pedestrians heading down to the restaurant. Cllr Deborah Sutherland, committee chairman, said: "We don't give this proposal our blessing because we don't think it's safe." In February Stroud District Council granted McDonald's planning permission for an outlet at Merrywalks with a condition that Rowcroft Retreat should be closed to all vehicles. Last month taxi drivers won the right to continue using the street and McDonald's then submitted the amended application. The changed plan proposed that a 6ft-wide green strip for pedestrians should be painted on the road. The district council is due to consider the application at its planning meeting on Tuesday, September 10. Cllr Bernard Brown, who supports the idea of a McDonald's for Stroud, said: "I'm in favour of McDonald's but I'm not in favour of that strip. "It isn't a reasonable footpath." COUNCILLORS did not act illegally by voting for a McDonald's for Stroud, protestors have been told. Town residents called for a judicial review of the decision made by the district council in February. But lawyers advised campaigners Rowan Burrough and Steve Penny that the process was not unlawful. Mr Penny said: "Our argument was that the council ignored the Highways Authority, who condemned the development as unsafe without the provision of pedestrian access from the town centre. "Because pedestrian access is to be provided, the court is unlikely to find the Highways Authority was ignored." He added, however: "We are still against McDonald's on ethical and environmental grounds." *Anyone who wishes to comment on the amended planning application for a McDonald's restaurant at Merrywalks should write before September 9 to: John Langmuir, Planning Dept, Stroud District Council, Ebley Mill, Stroud, Glos GL5 4UB, quoting reference S.01.1615/1616.