McDonalds Irish expansion stalled by sole objectors against new drive-thrus for Mullingar and Waterford
McDonalds in Santry, Dublin. Last month, planning authorities in Westmeath and Waterford gave the green light to planned McDonald's drive-thru restaurants for sites in lands at Lakepoint Retail and Business Park, Delvin Road, Petitswood, Mullingar, and Waterford Retail Park, Outer Ring Road, Butterstown, Co Waterford. Picture: File picture: iStock
The expansion of fast food giant McDonalds here has been stalled by planning appeals lodged by sole objectors in Counties Westmeath and Waterford.
Last month, planning authorities in Westmeath and Waterford gave the green light to planned McDonald's drive-thru restaurants for sites in lands at Lakepoint Retail and Business Park, Delvin Road, Petitswood, Mullingar, and Waterford Retail Park, Outer Ring Road, Butterstown, Co Waterford.
As part of its continuing Irish expansion, McDonalds also has additional planning applications for new drive-thru restaurants currently before planning authorities for sites in New Ross, Co Wexford, Thurles, Co Tipperary, and Carrigaline, Co Cork.
McDonalds has also lodged plans for a make-over of its flagship outlet on Dublin’s 62 O'Connell Street Upper which was first opened in 1979.
The proposals by the US headquartered firm in Co Westmeath and Co Waterford attracted little or no opposition, with only one objection lodged in each case.
However, those sole objectors, Ray Leonard in Co Westmeath and Michael Feehan in Co Kilkenny, have now lodged appeals with An Bord Pleanláa against the Council planning permissions.
Both objectors live a distance away from the planned McDonalds outlets — Mr Feehan has an address at Graigue Lower, Cuffesgrange, Co Kilkenny while Mr Leonard has an address in Kinnegad, Co Westmeath.
In his original objection against the drive-thru proposal in Waterford, Mr Feehan claimed that the development “will fundamentally alter the nature of the retail warehouse park”.
He claimed that the scheme “is s single use car based development, not ancillary to any of the uses on the park or providing any synergy with same”.
Mr Feehan further claimed that the McDonald's proposal “will negatively impact on existing restaurants and takeaways in the general area including in particular those in the city centre and district centres”.
Mr Feehan also claimed that the drive-thru “will negatively impact on the vitality and viability of the city centre and district centre drawing traffic into a facility on the periphery”.
In his appeal to An Bord Pleanála against the Mullingar McDonalds, Mr Leonard said: "Notwithstanding that the development will have some function in providing food for workers on the estate, it will primarily function as a single trip facility aimed at car-based customers which will negatively impact on the commercial viability and vitality of the town centre and against the principle of town centre first”.
Mr Leonard said that “the development in question will act against the town centre first approach which is central to any continued and sustainable development of Mullingar”.
Decisions on the appeals are due in July.
