McDonald’s fresh bid for Coventry Asda drive-thru restaurant

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McDonald’s fresh bid for Coventry Asda drive-thru restaurant

Postby dutchman » Tue Nov 26, 2019 3:29 pm

New changes have been made to the plan to try and quell concerns raised by residents

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McDonald’s has launched a fresh bid for a drive-thru in Coventry.

It is the second application the fast-food giant has submitted to build on part of the existing car park at Asda on London Road, Cheylesmore.

The first was withdrawn in May following concerns raised by residents which led to petitions totalling 337 signatures against the plans.

Revised proposals were taken to a consultation event in July, showing the scale reduced from two-storeys to one at the request of the council.

But formal submission of its second plan has included further changes which appear to have been made as a result of concerns raised by residents.

The initial plans said the drive-thru had the potential to be open 24 hours a day which sparked concern from residents over noise and potential anti-social behaviour.

While the new application states the restaurant would operate 24/7, it adds the site will open to the public for reduced hours of 6am until midnight.

Concerns had also previously been raised over pedestrian access and safety on the London Road – one of Coventry’s busiest roads.

There have been 13 injury collisions within the vicinity of the site between December 21 2013 and December 31 2018, data shows.

A controlled pedestrian crossing has now been proposed by McDonald’s on the London Road eastbound approach to the roundabout.

In a planning statement, McDonald’s said: “After consultation, the proposal includes additional pedestrian facilities and a reduction in the proposed opening hours, in line with comments received.

“The design of the building has been reviewed and changed, in line with officer comments.

“Sufficient parking has been provided at the restaurant with accessible parking located as close to the restaurant entrance as possible.

“The site represents an appropriate location for a drive-thru restaurant, which will be well placed to offer refreshments to passing customers and those in the surrounding area.”

Plans for the 351sqm site consist of a 108sqm dining area of 100 seats, a 30-space car park, and a drive-thru lane accessed via the car park.

Asda will lose 109 of its existing 477 car parking spaces as a result, but the current car park is said to be “excess to requirements and underused”.

Deliveries will be made during “quite trading periods” between the hours of 7am to midday and 2pm to 9pm, McDonald’s application states.

A public consultation is underway with a decision expected in 2020.

If approved, the site could open for 2021 and will create more than 65 jobs.

There are already seven McDonald’s restaurants within 10km of the site.

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Re: McDonald’s fresh bid for Coventry Asda drive-thru restaurant

Postby dutchman » Fri Jun 19, 2020 4:48 pm

McDonald’s drive-thru plans in Coventry thrown out

Campaigners have won a battle to stop a new McDonald’s drive-thru from opening on the already “busy” and “dangerous” London Road in Coventry.

The council’s planning committee sensationally threw out plans at a meeting on Thursday, June 19, overruling officers’ recommendations to approve.

A petition of 325 signatures argued the plans on an ‘underused’ part of Asda’s car park would cause gridlock from extra traffic and endanger pedestrians and cyclists.

Ward councillor Richard Brown said the London Road was a “deathtrap” for cyclists already.

“It’s recognised as a dangerous route and this is reflected by the fact it’s one of the first two roads to benefit from average speed enforcement cameras,” he said.

He also warned a ‘cumulative effect’ of traffic from this application and a potential 200-house scheme from Homes England further along the road meant it must be seen in context.

“Residents are saying no more without a substantial and comprehensive mitigation plan adopting a holistic approach. Coventry deserves better,” he added. One resident branded it an “alarming over-development” while another claimed adding to an already “extremely busy junction” would “contribute to gridlock”.

The proximity to Whitley Academy and Blue Coat School also drew concern, with fears children may walk to and from the fast-food site during peak traffic periods.

Planning officers recommended it for approval after securing a Section 106 agreement for a pedestrian crossing on the London Road eastbound approach to the roundabout.

But councillors remained unconvinced.

“I don’t see the need for any more traffic on this island,” Cllr Catherine Miks said.

“I have huge concerns about this. I have highway concerns. I have taken my hand to my mouth every time I go there as they [children crossing] take their life into their own hands.”

Plans were rejected six against and two for, due to highways safety and proximity to schools.

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Re: McDonald’s fresh bid for Coventry Asda drive-thru restaurant

Postby dutchman » Thu May 27, 2021 6:24 pm

New McDonald's drive-thru approved in Coventry - but not everyone's happy

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McDonald’s has won an appeal to open a controversial new drive-thru in Coventry.

Plans for a drive-thru on an ‘underused’ part of Asda’s car park on London Road were refused six votes to two by Coventry’s planning committee last June.

It followed a battle by campaigners and a petition of 325 signatures arguing it would cause gridlock and put pedestrians at risk on an already “busy” and “dangerous” road.

But the fast-food giant has now won planning permission on appeal after a Planning Inspector said there was “no compelling reason” to refuse the bid.

Whilst admitting pedestrian access currently “is not especially safe”, Inspector Ben Plenty said traffic modelling showed it “has the capacity” to take more vehicles when added to proposed mitigation measures including upgrades to existing crossings.

McDonald’s said they made changes to the scheme to address concerns and are “delighted” plans have been approved, but ward councillors Roger Bailey and Richard Brown said they feel local knowledge and wishes have been disregarded.

Cllr Bailey said: “I am very disappointed with the decision and the cumulative impact it will have on the local community.

“I’m sad to hear they felt local knowledge was not relevant and they feel notice should only be taken of what officers have to say.

“It is not about the company, but their attitude to not want to listen to local residents about how they are building on this specific site.”

Cllr Brown added: “Residents understandably feel they have been let down by a system that allows an inspector from outside the city to offhandedly ignore the strong views of their elected councillors that were clearly based on local knowledge.

“The fact that McDonald’s are willing to pursue their own business interests at the expense of the expressed wishes of the local community is shameful.”

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Re: McDonald’s fresh bid for Coventry Asda drive-thru restaurant

Postby dutchman » Wed Mar 29, 2023 12:08 am

Coventry residents 'suffer slap in the face' as 24/7 McDonald's approved

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Coventry residents have suffered a "slap in the face" after the city's newest McDonald's was granted a licence to open 24/7 despite serious worries about litter. Locals and councillors spoke out against an application by the Whitley fast food outlet to serve late-night refreshment at a hearing on March 27.

They said it would likely worsen the area's litter problems and could cause light pollution for neighbours. But a council committee granted the licence because no 'responsible' authorities - such as police - had opposed the plans.

After the meeting, Jonathan Wing, founder of the Big Clean-Up, said he was "disheartened" by the verdict and another said she felt "absolutely gutted." Mr Wing presented a dossier of evidence at the meeting showing the impact of litter on the area around the McDonald's in the 13 days since it opened.

READ MORE: Plans for new Coventry McDonald's to open 24/7 slammed by locals

He collated almost 100 photos showing dozens of McDonald's branded items left in the car park and nearby streets. Rubbish in the pictures had been photographed within three-to-four hour windows despite the store's claims of hourly litter patrols, he said.

"[Litter] blows away, affecting our wildlife," he told the meeting. "It's already a constant battle."

"We believe customers likely to use this will be drive-ins who will throw rubbish out of the car window." Keith Whitehead, who lives on Leamington Road, said he'd had litter right outside his door since the store opened.

Mr Whitehead also criticised McDonald's packaging. He showed attendees a cheeseburger wrapper with "do not recycle" on and other wrappers with prominent logos but nothing about litter.

Cheylesmore Cllr Roger Bailey added that light pollution could be a problem for houses opposite the restaurant. But the McDonald's barrister Leo Charalambides said while litter is "obviously an issue", outside a certain area it becomes a matter of personal responsibility.

"When you're driving away in your car and you throw [rubbish] out of a window, what can McDonald's do?" he asked. He also referred to a ruling by a government planning inspector that noise and light pollution from the store wouldn't significantly affect people nearby.

Mr Charalambides stressed the lack of objections from authorities to the store's plans. The meeting also heard that the McDonald's litter patrols now cover a wider area, including the local Asda car park.

After the meeting, Whitley store franchisee John Kiely said he is committed to working with local groups to tackle litter. "We want to be a good neighbour," he said.

Asked why the store applied to be 24/7, he said: "Customers want that access to our restaurant. People going home at night, going to work early - we know customers want and are asking for that."

Mr Wing said: "I'm disheartened with the outcome but looking forward to working with them as promised." Mr Whitehead said the meeting went "badly".

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Re: McDonald’s fresh bid for Coventry Asda drive-thru restaurant

Postby rebbonk » Wed Mar 29, 2023 10:38 am

... no 'responsible' authorities - such as police - had opposed ...
So the residents' views count for nothing? I hope the locals remove any elected officials that didn't fully and openly support their cause at the first opportunity.

Councils (and many other bodies) need reminding that they are to serve us, not the other way around. :fuming: :fuming: :fuming:
Of course it'll fit; you just need a bigger hammer.
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