Locals who attended the consultation raised environmental concerns and worries about the impact the fast-food restaurant would have on local businesses.
The online consultation for the new Branch in Lowfield, just off London Road, ended on Wednesday. Cavendish Consultation, on behalf of McDonalds, held an in person consultation last week where residents came to ask them about the proposal and raise questions.
According to the proposal, the Lowfield site is “an ideal location for a new drive-thru restaurant. Given it is well-connected to the local highway network.”
One person said: “The litter that places like McDonalds and Greggs generate is way beyond what those McEmployers are going to be McPicking up.”
Another expressed the issue of Lowfield Primary school being in such close proximity, with it already being ranked as Sheffield’s worst polluted primary school: “You know Lowfield school has already got the highest pollution levels in Sheffield. There’s going to be loads of cars idling because they’re waiting to get through the drive-thru, this is going to cause even more congestion.”
A representative for Cavendish Consulting, the hosts of the in person consultation, cited the benefits this new McDonalds would bring. He said: “The big benefit of McDonalds coming into the area is employment. So when you think of jobs per square foot, McDonalds is really good for that. So with this we would be looking at 90 new jobs.
“Having a business here, on a brown field vacant site, having a business here is a generation of business rates. We expect this site to raise £49,000 per year in business rates. A lot of this would go to Sheffield Council.”
Green Councillor for City Ward, Douglas Johnson, said: “One of the things I’m worried about is the detrimental impact on local businesses. London road is known for its local businesses.
“It’s famous for a lot of good independent businesses with proper cooking, it’s a proper foodie place. And of course this is something that’s going to take away a lot of business from local businesses and of course this is how big global conglomerates act.”
One local London Road restaurant owner would welcome this branch, believing it would bring in more foot traffic: “I think it would be good for business. I think they should open here. You see big places like Burger King and McDonalds. A lot of people do get a bit edgy thinking that it will affect the small businesses.
“But I think in the larger picture it brings people in and makes it more commercial. If anything I think it’s better for local businesses as it brings more people in. Nobody eats McDonalds everyday, and when they do come to the area they’ll see other places.”
