Appeal launched over refusal of Wrexham drive-thru McDonald’s plans

An appeal has been launched after plans for a new drive-thru McDonald’s in Wrexham were rejected.

The fast food chain’s application to open a restaurant on the Plas Coch Retail Park was refused by councillors in June amid concerns about the impact on traffic and parking.

The proposals near the main Mold Road gateway into the town had been recommended for approval by officials from Wrexham Council.

The company said the development on an area of car park which serves Argos and The Range would result in the creation of 65 new jobs.

However, it was refused after more than 80 objections were submitted by neighbours, who said it would cause congestion and attract boy racers to the retail park.

McDonald’s has now lodged an appeal with Planning and Environment Decisions Wales, formerly known as the Planning Inspectorate, in a bid to have the decision overturned.

Speaking at June’s planning committee meeting, a resident who lives nearby told community leaders the proposals would cause “chaos” in the area.

Christopher Jones said: “We already experience major parking issues whenever there is a Wrexham football home game.

“If there is a shortage of parking spaces to eat their food, then our roads would be an easy choice to park and throw their rubbish through their windows into the road.

“Boy racers could cause issues in the Argos and Range car park, doing wheelies and doughnuts in their cars, as has been happening at night in the Border Retail car park.

“I sincerely believe that the traffic survey review that was carried out was totally inadequate and did not reflect real time traffic issues, which regularly cause mayhem on the roundabouts.”

The local authority’s chief planning officer Lawrence Isted said the level of congestion caused by the restaurant would be “negligible”.

Meanwhile, a surveyor acting on behalf of McDonald’s said the development would result in a reduction in the number of people travelling from Wrexham to the nearest drive-thru in Chirk.

Despite the assurances, the proposals were rejected by committee members by nine votes to two.

A decision will be made on the appeal by inspectors at a later date.

By Liam Randall – BBC Local Democracy Reporter