Claremorris McDonald’s planning application put on hold by Mayo County Council

A planning application submitted by the fast-food chain McDonald’s to Mayo County Council has been put on hold pending the submission of additional information requested by the council.

The proposed site is on lands adjoining the Silverbridge Plaza and Shopping Centre on the Knock Road. The development would consist of the construction of a single-storey drive-thru restaurant.

Since the planning application has been submitted, a number of objections have been raised.

An objection was lodged by Marina Marot, raising concerns about increased traffic, noise and loitering. Additionally,  the submission raised questions about residential parking.

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Another objection, submitted by Lisa Marie Barrett and Niall Barrett too, states that the development could worsen traffic congestion, noise and residential parking issues.

Additionally, Lisa Marie Barrett and Niall Barrett stated that loitering and anti-social behaviour is already a prominent issue.

“We already have issues with loitering and anti-social behaviour with people drinking and smoking underneath the business part of the buidling.”

Despite the objections, support for the development has been voiced at council level. Speaking at a recent monthly meeting of Mayo County Council, Independent councillor Richard Finn urged the council to grant planning permission for the proposed McDonald’s branch in Claremorris.

“There is an application in for a McDonald’s franchise to open in the town. I would not like to see us ending up with same result we saw in terms of the response of the general public when the application was put in for Lidl three years go.

“It’s brand names we need in our town, if we don’t have brand names we have nothing.” he said.

“If we don’t have progress, we don’t have progress, we won’t have jobs or any lifestyle at all in our towns.”

A decision was due to be made on the planning application, but Mayo County Council has instead asked for further information from McDonald’s Restaurants of Ireland Limited.

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