Parish council opposes plans for 24-hour McDonald's near Devizes
Concerns raised over impact on rural setting and road safety
Plans for a 24-hour McDonald's drive-through near Devizes have faced opposition from Bishops Cannings Parish Council due to concerns about its impact on the historic rural environment and road safety.
McDonald's seeks to replace the former Cannings Hill petrol station site on Horton Road with the restaurant, promising 120 new jobs and annual business rates of up to £60,000.
While the parish council initially welcomed potential employment benefits, particularly for younger locals, further scrutiny led members to file an official objection on 24th August.
The council's concerns centred on the proposed restaurant's proximity to residences and the North Wessex Downs National Landscape, which lies within 450 metres.
Parish clerk Alison Kent highlighted adverse effects on aesthetic appeal, noise, traffic, and litter management associated with the fast-food operation.
The planned eight-metre-tall totem sign was particularly criticised, deemed incongruous in the semi-rural setting.
The parish council referenced concurrent plans for an adjacent Aldi supermarket and a forthcoming Tesco proposal, urging Wiltshire Council to consider these developments cohesively.
Council members suggested limiting restaurant operating hours from 7.30am to 10.30pm should permission be granted.
Moreover, the council linked drive-through operations to modern littering issues, noting McDonald's clean-up efforts are limited to a 150-metre radius.
Bishops Cannings Parish Council stressed the development's incompatibility with the locale's historical and environmental significance, expressing ongoing concerns about road safety deterioration.
Wiltshire Council's public consultation on the planning application has concluded.