McDonalds' plans for third Cheltenham restaurant
Time is running out if you have something to say about a certain popular burger brand's plans to convert a former Cheltenham restaurant into the latest branch of its fast-food chain.
*The Raikes Journal is the only independent news outlet in Gloucestershire approved to use the copy of the BBC local government reporting service. Why? Only only independent, credible journalistically-led platforms that meet the BBC’s high standards win that permission.
McDonald’s wants permission to serve food and drink until midnight every day at what would be their third restaurant in Cheltenham.
The American fast food chain has plans to open up shop at the site of the former TGI Friday’s restaurant at 374 Gloucester Road next to the Premier Inn.
The golden arches are already a feature at two other locations in Cheltenham.
There is a town centre restaurant in the High Street and an out-of-town drive-through off Tewkesbury Road at the Kingsditch Retail Park.
And now McDonald’s Restaurants Limited bosses have applied to Cheltenham Borough Council for permission to provide late refreshments at the site off the A40.
They are asking for permission to provide food and drink from 11pm to midnight every day of the week.
And the premises licence application suggests the restaurant would open from 6am until midnight.
The proposals have sparked strong opposition from schools and residents.
A petition against the new restaurant was signed by 15 schools and a college amid concerns over childhood obesity.
And concerns over children crossing at a blind bend has prompted civic chiefs to call for the speed limit to be reduced from 40mph to 30 between A40 Benhall Roundabout and A40 Gloucester Road/Sherbourne Road.
Earlier this year, Shire Hall bosses agreed to consider calls for a lower speed limit and new pedestrian crossings on the A40 in the spa town amid plans for a new McDonald’s.
Road safety concerns were raised when Borough Councillor Richard Pinegar (LD, St Marks) called on Gloucestershire County Council at a meeting in February to consider lowering the speed limit through the “tightly packed” residential area.
People have until May 1 to comment on the proposals and can do so by searching for application 25/00897/PRMA on the Borough Council’s online licensing portal.
By Carmelo Garcia, local democracy reporter for Gloucestershire. carmelo.garcia@reachplc.com