Locals fight to Stop the Whopper
TRAFFIC AND OBESITY FEARS
OUTRAGED locals in Newcastle’s West End are hoping to ‘Stop the Whopper,’ as opposition mounts against plans to open a Burger King on the site of an old police station.
Proposals were unveiled last month to transform the disused Westgate Road station into a new drive-through takeaway, as well as two shops and a dental surgery.
But the idea has sparked a wave of objections from residents in Elswick, who fear the damaging impact of another fast food outlet in the area and nightmare traffic congestion.
More than 140 people have already lodged objections with Newcastle City Council and many joined a protest at the station on Monday night, while a residents’ campaign website set up to oppose the plans calls the project an “unthinkable proposition”.
The ‘Stop the Whopper’ site adds: “Four bus stops, outside of the proposed Burger King site, are on children’s school routes.
“More traffic on feeder roads, junctions, crossings, bus stops and residential streets represent serious safety concerns, which we believe have not been considered in documents supporting the application. As residents of the area and parents it is extremely important that the planning application for a large fast food drive-through in our area is rejected.
“The proposed site represents an opportunity for a developer to enhance the West End of the city and build something that would provide an amenity and resource for our community. A fast food drive through restaurant of any description in a residential area with the highest levels of fast food outlets close to primary and secondary schools and bus stops is an unthinkable proposition for the city.”
Plans from developer Hadrian Property Investments would involve part of the four-storey station being torn down – including its old cell blocks.
In submissions to the council, planning consultant Fairhurst add that the redevelopment would create a “vibrant commercial service area and bring to life a currently vacant site”.
They also argue that noise and traffic levels from the new drivethrough, shops, and dentists’ would be less disruptive than that of the old police station.
But ward councillor Ann Schofield said that building a takeaway would be a “backwards step” for Elswick, after being encouraged by local support for the Eagles Community Arena and the re-opening of the Elswick Pool.
She added: “I am not against the brand of Burger King. What I am objecting to is that this is another hot food takeaway, and one with a drivethrough which creates even more problems.
“Elswick and the surrounding area has too many takeaways.
“We also have a huge problem with traffic and I think the applicant is quite misleading in saying this won’t create extra traffic.
“I can’t see anything in the application that is forward-looking and fits in with our aims for a healthy city, or that has any regard for the people living next to it.”
Green Party campaigner, Tay Pitman, has also raised fears about the impact of a new fast food outlet in an area that has some of the worst levels of childhood obesity in the city.