McDonald's drive-through refused after traffic fears

Plans for a drive-through McDonald's restaurant in Hove have been unanimously refused.

There were more than 330 objections to the Old Shoreham Road proposal, including from schools in the area, which included concerns about litter, traffic and childhood obesity.

Residents who live nearby protested outside Hove Town Hall on Wednesday before Brighton & Hove City Council's planning meeting.

McDonald's said previously it would bring 120 jobs to the local area and strived to be a good neighbour in communities where it operated.

Emma Russell, who is part of Hove Against McDonald's, said: "Our main concerns are the size and volume of it, the fact it's open 18 hours a day, it's a really busy road already with quite a lot of accidents.

"It's very difficult for us to get around the area at busy times already, so there's going to be people idling their cars and creating pollution.

"I feel we should be safeguarding our children's wellbeing and future."

However, she added: "It's not to say people can't occasionally have a burger."

Inside the town hall, the council planning committee spent almost two hours asking questions about the application and debating the plans.

A report to the committee had recommended refusing the application prior to the meeting and councillors backed officials, voting unanimously to reject McDonald's proposal.

There was also support for the drive-through from more than 100 people, who highlighted increased employment opportunities in the area and the fact it would prevent a longer trip to other McDonald's restaurants.

The closest drive-through McDonald's restaurants for people in Brighton and Hove are in Shoreham and at Brighton Marina.

McDonald's was approached for comment.

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