McDonalds bid for Bedhampton restaurant fails to get the green light
CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a fast food drive-through at one of Havant’s busiest roundabouts have been put on ice.
Councillors decided to delay their decision on whether to grant planning permission to a McDonald’s at Larchwood Avenue, Bedhampton, until further traffic reports are carried out.
After a lengthy debate and arguments both for and against from eight people, members of Havant Borough Council’s planning committee unanimously agreed to postpone the vote.
They made the decision having agreed there are already major congestion problems at the Purbrook roundabout next to the site, and that the application did not present a clear analysis of how a new restaurant would affect this.
During the public meeting last night, committee member Cllr Elaine Shimbart said: ‘I’m all for a new McDonald’s and think it would be a great way of bringing new jobs to the area, but this is the worst possible location for it.
‘It’s right next to a very busy and very dangerous roundabout. Traffic is a real concern there.
‘The last application for a McDonald’s at the site was refused in 2002 because the roads in and out of the site could not cope with the additional demand it would create.
‘Surely it’s common sense to realise traffic has got much worse in the last 10 years.’
Councillors said it is a regular occurrence to see all five roads leading to the roundabout with long queues during peak times.
Figures presented showed that there would be 10 extra cars at this junction every five minutes, should the new eatery be built.
Despite confirmation on these figures from associate transport planner for Hampshire County Council, Graham Wright, committee members were unconvinced they presented a clear picture of the impact on traffic in the area.
This was mainly due to the fact that the five traffic reports presented to the council were carried out by McDonald’s rather than independently.
Committee member Cllr Michael Wilson said: ‘I’m nervous that we don’t have all the necessary traffic information here.
‘I wouldn’t like to throw away the application without having that, but I don’t see how we can pass it without this information.’
Other concerns raised by the committee and those presenting deputations include anti-social behaviour, light pollution and litter problems.
Cllr Ken Smith, Mayor of Havant and ward councillor for Bedhampton, spoke out against the application on behalf of his constituents. After the meeting he said: ‘It’s the best result we could’ve got.’
The new restaurant would create 30 full-time jobs and 50 part-time jobs, and if passed, the firm would have to contribute more than £75,000 towards transport improvements in Havant.
It would also have to install a barrier to stop cars entering the car park after closing hours.
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Comments
There are 9 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
mak68
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 12:11 PMIm missing something here, why is it a bad idea? I can see no reasoning for why it could be so, other than problems associated with the traffic and specifically the roundabout. The application itself I believe remains a good one, it will provide jobs for local people (more importantly the ones in close locality that an awful lot of ignorant people on here claim to be lazy fat slobs who have nothing better to do than sponge off of the state!) as well as the potential to smarten up the area opposite the petrol station which to be totally honest is an eyesore in itself. The only barrier to progression as I see it is once agin the beauty of NIMBY'ism and a "whats mines my own" attitude. I say hurry up and iron out the roundabout problem so it can be built asap.
griffon
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 11:45 AMHm 80 jobs? I take it if Waterlooville close we're talking less than half of that after deductions.
snapdog
Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 08:31 PMsimon why are they low class fast food? although I did not agree with the location, it would have provided much needed jobs!
ajs
Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 08:29 PMwell that. is about 80 jobs gone then.
udontknow
Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 11:32 PMSave time why don't you build the drive thru on the roundabout and as people are driving around it they can place their order put their money in a bucket and have it ready when they get to the street they want?.
Budgie One
Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 05:26 PMmy god, hbc showing backbone and common sense, now what are you going to do about this deadly roundabout?
TrevorA
Friday, January 13, 2012 at 05:57 PMWe haven't won yet but now have time to convince those in favour that this is not a good idea fro the community. Hopefully the Dunsbury Hill Farm planning application will be approved before this McD application comes back to the planning committee. The Dundsbury Hill Farm development will add traffic to the already congested road network and will make it easier to reject this application next time round. It was disappointing that two local Councillors (Jenny Wride and Mike Fairhurst) spoke in favour of the application. They both need to be convinced that local residents are not in favour of this development and that they should be supporting the residents in this matter. Otherwise residents should consider this lack of support for residents at the next council elections.
simon.farlington
Friday, January 13, 2012 at 12:57 PMWell done to Havant Council, we need less of these low class fast food establishments, not more.
griffon
Friday, January 13, 2012 at 12:12 PMHavant's planning committee don't usually get thanked but on this occassion thankyou councillors for facing down the mighty Mac.
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