New plans for McDonald’s drive-through at Field & Trek site

By Maria Zaccaro, Local Democracy Reporter
Field and Trek Bitterne ManorControversial plans for a new McDonald’s restaurant expected to create more than 60 jobs in Southampton are back on the table.

 

New proposals for a drive-through restaurant in the former Field and Trek building on Hawkeswood Road have been submitted to Southampton City Council.

Earlier this year McDonald’s put forward plans for a new restaurant at the site.

But it then withdrew them after residents, councillors and Southampton Itchen MP Royston Smith raised concerns over the impact they would have had on traffic, air quality and local residents.

The plans were to be discussed by planning bosses and civic chiefs at the beginning of June but were withdrawn a few hours before the meeting.

Now McDonald’s has submitted new plans for the same site.

According to the new proposals, additional acoustic fencing would be introduced along the north-west boundary while the existing on-street parking bays could be removed and replaced with double yellow lines.

But residents, councillors and Mr Smith said the concerns previously raised have not been addressed.

Local resident Andy Peterson said: “We are really disappointed that McDonald’s have resubmitted plans. We continue to object to the revised plan. The issues of litter in the river, noise, pollution and anti social behaviour have not been addressed and will still have a negative impact on residents seven days a week.”

Field and Trek Hawkeswood Road Bitterne Manor May 2019

David Fuller, Conservative councillor for Bitterne Park ward, said the proposed site is “entirely unsuitable” for any fast food chain.

He added: “It is time McDonald’s recognised that and looked for an alternative site. This new application is almost identical to the last and completely fails to address the concerns of local residents.”

Eamonn Keogh, Labour councillor for Peartree ward, said: “I know that the Bitterne Park councillors are also opposed to this application and I would expect that we can work together to demonstrate a coordinated opposition,” he added.

Mr Smith said his objections remain the same.

“This is not the place to make our air quality worse, if anything it’s an area where air quality needs improving,” he added.

In an official document McDonald’s said that the store would have a litter management plan and “should any rubbish be found within neighbouring properties front gardens, then with residents permission rubbish can be removed from individual properties”. It also added that “the development will have no significant effects on local air quality conditions”.

A spokesperson for McDonald’s added: “We have taken into consideration the comments that were raised initially. We look forward to progressing with this opportunity and the jobs and investment it could bring to the local community.”


ldrs logo 200px This article is from the Local Democracy Reporting Service or Shared Data Unit. Some alterations and additions may have been made by our site, which is a partner in the BBC's Local News Partnerships scheme. LDRS journalists are funded by the BBC to cover local authorities and other public service organisations, and content is shared with all partners.



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