Plans for second McDonald's in Christchurch met with objections

The fast-food giant could be adding a restaurant to the town at the retail park off Barrack Road.

As reported, St James Place Trust, which has owned Christchurch Retail Park since 2007, tabled a planning application to BCP Council for the premises currently occupied by Pizza Hut.

If approved, the chain would be able to demolish the existing unit and replace it with a new outlet and a drive-thru.

However, a public consultation on the application has been met with 94 objections and just three comments in support.

BCP Council Commons ward councillor Vanessa Ricketts was among the dissenting voices.

In her submission, Cllr Ricketts said: “I wish to object to this application following emails I have received from concerned residents within my ward regarding this application to convert Pizza Hut into a McDonald’s.

“Not only is the associated litter and additional traffic movements of concern on this already busy roundabout, but the location of this fast food outlet so close to two Christchurch Schools seems to fly in the face of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 which states that Local Authorities should embed public health functions into all their activities.

“Surely we should be promoting healthy eating habits for our children, not walking them past fast food outlets on the way home from school.”

Many of the objecting residents cited similar concerns over litter and issues on the roads, with Barrack Road being one of the pinch points in the local traffic network.

BCP Council’s highways and waste and recycling departments have raised no objection to the proposals.

One of the comments supporting the application, from Branwell Close resident Damon Quinn, said there are two KFC restaurants in the town and it would be a “great asset to the community” to have a second McDonald’s.

The consultation for the planning application closed several weeks ago and the scheme is currently under consideration with BCP Council’s planning committee.