Plans have been submitted for a new McDonald's restaurant near Cheadle.

If plans were approved, a new McDonald's branch would be built on land to the north of Stanley Green Retail Park.

The restaurant would be open for 24 hours per day, and seven days per week. It would be 'drive-to' as opposed to drive-through.

The plans have met with a fair deal of controversy - whilst the final decision ultimately rests with Stockport Council's planning and highways committee, some councillors in Cheadle have argued that the plans should be refused.

At a meeting of the Cheadle Area Committee on Tuesday 5 March, six councillors carried a motion which recommended that the planning committee refuse the proposals.

Councillors at the Cheadle Area Committee passed a motion recommending that the council's planning committee refuse the McDonald's plans (Image - Stockport Council)

Arguments against the restaurant include a risk to public health (given that the restaurant would be sited just over 300 metres from a school), the potentially negative impact on traffic and car parking, and security concerns.

However, the application has not been entirely opposed; among 23 letters submitted during the consultation phase, some local residents argued that the new restaurant would enhance local choice, and improve job opportunities in the area.

In a similar vein, one argument responded to concerns over healthy food choices in the area by saying: "Children will buy junk food and litter regardless of the outlet. At least McDonald's uses more recyclable packaging than other outlets in the area."

Furthermore, others argued that the feared impacts on traffic would be negligible.

Speaking at the Cheadle Area Committee, Catherine Chapman, a highways expert, said: "The proposed traffic would have no significant impact on the existing level of operation [...] one vehicle per minute in and out is not going to make a material difference to the way the road operates."

Ms Chapman added: "There would be 55 car parking spaces for the restaurant [...] the peak parking demand for the restaurant would be 44 vehicles, so 55 spaces is more than sufficient. There would be no risk of overspill parking."

Plans showing what the proposed restaurant would look like (Image via planning document)

Others, however, were less optimistic about the proposals.

Also speaking at the Cheadle committee meeting, a member of the public argued: "The effect of this development would be to draw footfall away from our local centres.

"Public health - that's another matter. [...] It's too close to St James' School.

"And highway congestion - this is a major issue. We're going to have a lot of problems in that area; it's well known locally. It is a blackspot. We, the local residents, experience it every single day. To put a McDonald's there is madness."

Similarly, Cllr Tom Morrison said he had 'concerns' with the proposals. He argued: "The 24 hours is a real issue for me [...] if you look at how close the site is to residential properties [...] we shouldn't be providing a 24-hour restaurant there.

"My worry is this is going to attract people driving down the A555 or the bypass, so it's actually going to generate even more traffic in that area.

"The public health issue here is also a real problem. [...] Child obesity is growing 35.9% according to public health.

Where the restaurant would be sited relative to the rest of Stanley Green (Image via planning document)

"And, public health have said it should be refused because kids could be in danger by crossing the highway there; if I was sitting on planning and highways, I would not be able to approve that, on that point alone.

"God forbid if something happened on that junction - I would have that on my conscience."

Similarly, Cllr Ian Hunter said: "The situation of this restaurant - 320 metres from a school - it's near as dammit 300 metres, which is the local planning standard.

"The other point I want to make is on traffic numbers; there are 3,000 new houses that have either just been built - or are about to be built - that hasn't been included in this base data.

"On those two points alone, I think we should be waving a red flag."

Ultimately, councillors at the committee recommended that the council's planning and highways committee - with whom the final decision lies - should refuse the plans.

Further still, councillors recommended that planning inspectors conduct a site visit, to find more information.

Proposed and seconded by Cllr Carole McCann and Cllr Jilly Julian respectively, the motion recommended that site visitors assess the aforementioned issues - public health risk, security, traffic, parking, and the 24-hour opening - and that inspectors conducted the visit at peak time.

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