New McDonald's in town 'could create 120 jobs'

A 24-hour McDonald's restaurant in Devizes could create more than 100 jobs in the town, the fast food giant has said.

The company would like to open a McDonald's outlet on the site of the Murco garage on Horton Road in Bishops Cannings, just outside Devizes.

On a website about the proposals, the fast food giant claimed the venture could generate between £50,000 and £60,000 in business rates and that "up to 120 new jobs" would be created.

Darren Bone, chair of Bishops Cannings Parish Council, said he was "delighted" by the potential creation of new jobs. He said he would look into any negative impacts after some people raised the prospect of more litter and traffic.

Bone said: "We are especially delighted to see this potential much-needed boost in jobs, especially for young people."

The proposed McDonald's restaurant would operate 24 hours a day from Monday to Sunday.

The Murco garage would be demolished to make way for the development, according to a planning application submitted to Wiltshire Council.

On social media, several residents have raised concerns about the potential impact of litter if the restaurant plan goes ahead.

Steve Stiles, who lives near the site, said: "We already get McDonald's bags and rubbish all over the roads in Bishops Cannings... so this will just get worse."

McDonald's said that if plans were approved a minimum of three litter picks would be carried out each day "within a 150m radius of the site".

The McDonald's application forms part of a wider range of applications in the Bishops Cannings area.

An Aldi supermarket could be built on land next to the A361 and early proposals have been revealed for a development called 'Moonraker Park' on former Ministry of Defence land off Horton Road.

Leaflets about the development, which would include a Tesco supermarket and a Starbucks, have been distributed to people living in the area.

"These are exciting times for the parish of Bishops Cannings," Bones said.

"Just like London buses, when three often arrive together, so we now have three major commercial proposals either at the planning stage or starting public consultation."

He said councillors would look at the proposals in detail and "consider their collective impact, not least with respect to access, pedestrian and vehicle safety, noise and litter".

McDonald's has been contacted for comment.

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