Hucknall councillor says possible new McDonald's at traffic hotspot 'cannot happen'
A Hucknall county councillor has expressed his huge concerns over rumours that fast food giant McDonald’s wants to open a new restaurant in the town.
Coun Richard Darrington’s (Ref) biggest fear is the rumoured location McDonald’s would be looking at off Aerial Way near the new Lidl and housing development.
This is already a major traffic hotspot in the town, particualrly during morning and evening rush hours and – and a potential new McDonald’s on the site would only make things even worse.
Fears have grown on the subject after Nottinghamshire Council put out a traffic roadworks bulletin for Hucknall which warned motorists of two-way traffic lights on Aerial Way ‘adjacent to No 1 and opposite the proposed McDonald’s development from Monday 13th to Wednesday 15th July for trial hole works’ which are to be carried out by Nottingham company Conlon Construction.
These works have now since been cancelled.
But Coun Darrington said he still intended to raise the matter of the original bulletin posting with the Highways Department at County Hall – who said at the time it was a ‘typo’.
He continued: “My concern is to what degree is this a typo, that’s what I want to find out because my worry is that McDonald’s want to dump something else on us on a particular stretch of road that cannot cope with it.
"We cannot allow it.”
Any potential plans for a new restaurant would have to be submitted to Ashfield Council.
Coun Darrington said he had checked with Ashfield Council and no such planning proposal had been submitted.
Hucknall district councillors Lee Waters and Dave Shaw (both Ash Ind) also confirmed no planning proposals had been received for a new McDonald’s in the town.
However, Coun Darrington said he would continue to look into any potential changes in that down the line and oppose any attempts by McDonald’s to build on the site.
He continued: “I will be actively seeking every district councillor to get on board with opposing this because this cannot happen.
"If it was to happen, I’m not saying it will happen, but it just makes me a little bit fearful that is there an alterior motive there with that ‘typo’.
"I know it was a typo, I’ve been told personally it was a typo, but it doesn’t mean they’re not scoping around that area for something in the future, that’s my fear.
"I will keep digging because I’m not going to sit back and let that happen there, not a chance.”
Coun Waters also expressed his opposition to any potential plans to bring McDonald’s to Aerial Way, saying: “Residents deserve to know what is being discussed and why work appears to be taking place before any proposal has gone through the proper public planning process.
"A McDonald’s in this location could bring additional traffic, litter and anti-social behaviour, so any application must be subject to full scrutiny and proper consultation with local people.”
Your Dispatch has contacted Nottinghamshire Council, McDonald’s and Conlon Construction for comment.