MORE THAN 300 residents have signed a petition against plans for a McDonald’s drive-thru in Coventry.
Plans have been submitted to Coventry City Council to build the 24/7 drive-thru restaurant on the Asda car park on London Road in Whitley.
The application from McDonald’s – for its seventh restaurant in the city – says the Asda car park is heavily underused and that the new restaurant would create 64 new jobs.
The restaurant would be a two-storey drive-thru and would be built over more than 100 spaces of Asda’s 477-space car park, with room for 30 associated parking spaces.
But nearby residents have joined forces in opposition to the plans and have submitted two petitions to the council containing 337 signatures.
The first petition states: “The traffic infrastructure cannot support a busy eatery in this location.
“There is no safe crossing points from any direction for pedestrians on one of the most dangerous roads in the country.
“There are concerns over the increase in anti-social behaviour (as a meeting point for groups of youths).”
Conservative councillor Roger Bailey, who submitted the petitions, said: “Local residents have serious concerns about this addition on the ASDA car park that is at times heavily used.
“There are also concerns about the increase in traffic on an already busy junction, which at times sees vehicle backed up along the London Road and the damage this causes to air quality locally.
The second petition states: “We are concerned about environmental impact, not just noise, but traffic pollution from extra traffic on London Road and in particular the ‘ASDA Island’ where there is already significant congestion since the Humber Road site development.
“We are also concerned by impact on privacy into homes opposite the proposed two-floor site.
“The site is also close to a primary and secondary school which will impact on children’s health with access close to their schools.
“And there is already a 24-hour drive through in the area, there is no need for another so close.”
A McDonald’s spokesperson said: “We continue to work closely with the council on this project to ensure all areas of the design meets the required standards.
“We are in-line with local planning policies regarding the proximity to schools, which is a responsibility we take very seriously. “We would like to reassure local residents that our main priority is to be a good neighbour and will review the questions raised.”
