A38 Mcdonald’s plans look set to be approved
THERE HAVE BEEN CONCERNS RAISED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE SITE BETWEEN VILLAGES
PLANS for a drive-through Mcdonald’s next to a notorious A38 junction in Derbyshire are set for approval despite significant opposition over road safety concerns.
The planned restaurant, if approved, would be built on land bordering the intersection of the A38, the Castle Way and the A5132, near Willington.
South Derbyshire District Council officers have recommended the plans should be approved at a meeting on April 2. This comes six months on from officials recommending refusal – with the company withdrawing those plans.
The closest Mcdonald’s to the site is three miles south in Derby Road, Burton. Council officers previously sought rejection of the plans in September because Mcdonald’s had not considered other locations in the area that may be more suitable – known as the sequential assessent.
Mcdonald’s had said this was not required but has now carried out this test, looking at locations in Mickleover, Willington, Etwall, Hilton, Hatton, Findern, Newton Solney, Repton and Heatherton Village.
This also includes the currently vacant KFC plot at the Derby and Burton services off the Toyota roundabout – which Mcdonald’s said it was unaware of.
The firm has concluded that the proposed spot, on the outskirts of Willington, across from a BP petrol station and the OK Diner, is the best option available with the vacant unit at the nearby services said to be too small.
If approved, the plans would create 120 jobs, Mcdonald’s says, and would see the investment of £1.87million into the local economy.
The site would include 53 car park spaces and room for up to 20 vehicles to queue at the drive-through portion of the restaurant
A total of 199 objection letters were submitted in response to the refreshed application, along with 43 letters of support.
More than 270 objection letters and 230 letters of support had been received in response to the first application last year.
Egginton Parish Council has objected to the plans, citing “serious concerns” over highways safety. It wrote: “This section of the A38 was designed and built in the 1960s when road design was less well developed, there were many fewer cars and lorries and speeds were generally lower than today. “Coming from the north, towards Egginton Services, the traffic is often travelling too fast as it nears the short, narrow exit slip road. To make matters worse, this slip road has a right angle turning off it, which is an entrance to the Southbound Egginton Services.
“This often causes sudden harsh braking, as drivers – uncertain of where the entrance actually is – suddenly spot it and try to avoid overshooting. Traffic is liable to back up onto the slip road. Given the already substantial series of traffic difficulties in the immediate area, it is extremely unwise to consider this site for a Mcdonald’s.”
Willington Parish Council has also objected to the plans, detailing extensive concerns about the existing volume of traffic in the area and the impact of the A38 on the planned restaurant. It says the traffic assessment focuses on The Castle Way and does not factor in the busy A38.
The parish council says: “The history of reported accidents, the high volume of un-reported incidents
Given the traffic difficulties in the area, it is extremely unwise to consider this site for a Mcdonald’s Council
and the thousands of near misses are all due to slow-moving traffic attempting to exit or enter the A38 from the A5132
“We therefore request that a full analysis is conducted on this actual junction and that the results are shared. The residents who live in the area, and who use that junction on a daily basis, should be listened to and that any application for development includes significant work to make the entrance and exit onto the A38 safe.”
Public objections include traffic and highways safety concerns, litter, noise, foul odour, air pollution, antisocial behaviour, environmental impact, health and wellbeing, lack of pedestrian access and the impact on the character of Willington.
Letters in support focus on the development’s proposed job creation, reduction in car journeys into other areas for Mcdonald’s and reuse of the vacant site.
Council planners, recommending approval, wrote: “The proposal will result in a main town centre use being located outside of the town centre in the rural part of the district, which are negative aspects of this application that weigh against approval in the planning balance. “There are also concerns raised by members of local communities regarding traffic, noise and disturbance.
“The applicant has undertaken as sequential assessment and has adequately demonstrated that there are no sequentially preferable sites that are suitable for the business model of the applicant. In addition, the applicant maintains the sequential assessment was not necessary given the proposal’s primary function is to serve as a roadside facility.
“This last point is disputed by the council. Nevertheless, it is considered on balance that the sequential assessment adequately confirms that there are no sequentially preferable sites for the proposed use.
“The proposal will result in the redevelopment of a brownfield site and create in the region of 120 full and part time jobs, which will be a key benefit of the scheme to the local economy.”