McDonald’s bid in Herefordshire town withdrawn

The application to build a McDonald’s at a Herefordshire town has been withdrawn.

No reason has yet been given for the move, which comes after much passionate debate for and against the planned fast food outlet on the edge of Ross-on-Wye.

The restaurant, which would have included a drive-through, would have been at the roundabout where the A40 meets the A449 to the north-east of the town.

National Highways, which manages both trunk roads, recommended in March that permission not be granted “for a period of three months pending submission of further information”, citing concerns over pedestrian and cycle access, and “geotechnical impacts” from the planned sewer.

It said it had first made these concerns known in December, but “since no new information has been submitted, our concerns remain current”.

The application drew 221 objections and 97 submissions of support locally. Ross-on-Wye Town Council also objected, citing concerns over design, signage, walking and cycling, impact on views and on employment in the town centre.

No “retail impact assessment” on the restaurant’s likely effect on the town had been carried out as required, the town council said.