McDonald's drops appeal but still seeks town site
By Jo Deeks on Thursday, 1st February 2001.
BURGER giant McDonald's has withdrawn from a public inquiry into plans for a restaurant at Haverhill Retail Park, but says it is still desperately seeking a site in the town.
Residents gathered a petition against the planned McDonald's drive-through restaurant at Park Road saying it was in the wrong place, too close to their homes.
St Edmundsbury Borough Council's Planning committee refused three planning applications by McDonald's and the company had appealed to the Secretary of State against two of the refusals. A public inquiry was due to be held, but will not go ahead after McDonald's withdrawal.
Coun Margaret Warwick, chairman of the Planning committee, welcomed the move.
"I know that the council, and the people of Haverhill, would welcome McDonald's to the town, but it has to be on a suitable site," she said.
"Hopefully we can now enter into discussions with the company to identify an appropriate location."
Paul Proffitt, regional property manager for McDonald's, said the company was still looking for a site in the town, but it had to be a drive-through rather than in the town centre.
"We are not pursuing the appeal there, bearing in mind what councillors said about the residential amenities of the site," he said.
"Eighteen months to two years ago, when we first started looking at it, there were no houses there, but we have taken on board what was said.
"We would be delighted to be represented elsewhere in Haverhill. If you could point us to the right site we would move there tomorrow.
"We feel the town can well support a drive-through facility and we will be seeking suggestions from the local authority about where it could go."
Residents gathered a petition against the planned McDonald's drive-through restaurant at Park Road saying it was in the wrong place, too close to their homes.
St Edmundsbury Borough Council's Planning committee refused three planning applications by McDonald's and the company had appealed to the Secretary of State against two of the refusals. A public inquiry was due to be held, but will not go ahead after McDonald's withdrawal.
Coun Margaret Warwick, chairman of the Planning committee, welcomed the move.
"I know that the council, and the people of Haverhill, would welcome McDonald's to the town, but it has to be on a suitable site," she said.
"Hopefully we can now enter into discussions with the company to identify an appropriate location."
Paul Proffitt, regional property manager for McDonald's, said the company was still looking for a site in the town, but it had to be a drive-through rather than in the town centre.
"We are not pursuing the appeal there, bearing in mind what councillors said about the residential amenities of the site," he said.
"Eighteen months to two years ago, when we first started looking at it, there were no houses there, but we have taken on board what was said.
"We would be delighted to be represented elsewhere in Haverhill. If you could point us to the right site we would move there tomorrow.
"We feel the town can well support a drive-through facility and we will be seeking suggestions from the local authority about where it could go."
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