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Controversial plans for a new McDonald’s drive-thru have been recommended for approval amid huge backlash and a campaign opposing the scheme.
The fast-food giant wants to build a new 24-hour restaurant on the corner of Townwall Street and Woolcomber Street in Dover.
More than 300 objections have been lodged against the scheme, citing fears the site will damage the town’s historic assets and a cemetery.
Despite concerns, Dover District Council’s (DDC) planning officers say the application should get the go-ahead when it comes before next week's planning committee meeting.
The report stated the plans will make “significantly positive contributions to the vitality and viability of the town centre” by bringing a brownfield site back to life but admits it would cause “some harm to the setting of heritage assets”, particularly St James’ Church.
But the officer also said the “harm is considered to be less than substantial”, adding: “The applicant has demonstrated they have minimised the overall harm by the proposed layout and siting of the buildings.
“It is considered that the development can be achieved without adversely affecting the amenities of existing residents and would have an acceptable impact on the safety and operation of the highway network.
“It is considered that on balance, the harm will be outweighed by the significant economic, social and environmental public benefits that will arise.”
But in response to the application, Historic England has raised a strong objection over its close proximity to the ruins of St James’ Church, which residents previously said could see graves disturbed.
In its comment on DDC’s planning portal, Historic England said: “Not only are we concerned that the development would be incongruous to the setting of the church, but also that this choice of development would hurt the significance of the church from development within its setting.
“In its current form, we believe the development constitutes considerable harm to the monument and, in particular, would harm views for members of the public.
“There are no heritage benefits included in the proposal and we maintain our position that the proposed development does not represent a scheme that has sufficiently minimised harm to designated heritage.”
Dover Town Council also opposes the scheme, adding: “Instead of settling for good enough, there is a need to enhance Dover’s remaining heritage assets.
“The heritage buildings of Dover are much lauded by economic development and planning teams, except when an inappropriate proposal such as the McDonald’s development provides more or face-saving for the district council.
“Let us rather see a plan to enhance St James’ ruin and the few remaining historic buildings which the A20 and Gateway development has sufficiently blighted.”
In total, 316 objections and 183 supporting comments have been registered on DDC’s planning portal.
Joanna Walton, who favours the scheme, commented: “This application would create much-needed new jobs in the local community as well as further opportunities in construction and the supply chain.
“A new McDonald’s in this location would be positive for Dover and alleviate pressures on surrounding restaurants. I hope DDC supports this application.”
The proposed site was home to Dover Leisure Centre until it was demolished in 2020.
Since then, the land has been split between empty space and a car park.
If approved, the 24-hour restaurant, close to the approach to the Port of Dover just off the A20, would be the town’s only McDonald’s, with the closest currently four miles away on the A2 in Whitfield.
Earlier this year, the Friends of Castle Conservation Area Dover group launched a campaign against the proposal.
Louis Melville, from the group, said: “It must be remembered that DDC are the freeholders of this land proposed for the site of the new McDonald's.
“So in light of new central government guidelines, would not it be better that the site be used for low impact eco-friendly single-family homes on the old leisure centre portion of the site, and the graveyard area of the site be left untouched? Dover needs homes not hamburgers.
“Since when is Dover Castle, one of the world's most iconic castles, known around the world and attracting millions of visitors, just any old heritage asset?
“Both government and DDC's own planning guidelines state that heritage assets must be preserved and enhanced where possible, this planning application, by DDC officer's own admission, does neither. How can doing any kind of harm to a heritage asset be in keeping with those guidelines?
“DDC, please have the foresight to say no to this application.
“Do not damage our heritage assets, do not put the last nail in the coffin of Dover's demise into nothing more than a drive-thru service station for the Port.
Traffic worries have also been flagged, including by DDC leader Cllr Kevin Mills (Lab) who previously said the land “could have been better used”.
The project will include 55 spaces - including 10 for electric car charging - and will create 120 jobs, the company says.
McDonald’s used to have a town centre restaurant in Biggin Street, but it shut down in November 2017 and is currently empty.
At the time, the company said the decision to close “was not taken lightly” and 45 staff members were offered jobs at other locations.
Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.
The closure came almost exactly on the 30th anniversary of its opening in autumn 1987.
The application is set to be discussed at Thursday’s DDC planning meeting.