Fears a new restaurant would turn town into 'Mac-Drayton'
Plans for a new McDonald's restaurant at the western entrance to Market Drayton would "not project the image that the town requires" to visitors, a leading construction expert has said.
Michael Foy OBE, who lives in Market Drayton, is the vice president and future president of the Chartered Institute of Building and has weighed in on the McDonald's bid to build a restaurant off the roundabout connecting Shrewsbury Road and the A53.
He criticised the proposed placement of the development, which he said would hinder the town's efforts to "rediscover its past prominence".
In a letter to Shropshire Council, which will decide whether the application is approved, Mr Foy said: "I am registering my concerns regarding this application on the grounds that I don't believe it enhances the image of Market Drayton by being in its proposed location.
"The application by McDonald's to locate on the A53/Shrewsbury Road, the gateways to Market Drayton from the west, does not project the image that the town requires as it strives to develop itself and rediscover its past prominence as a key market town in north Shropshire.
"The first thing that anyone driving along the A53 from the west will be presented with will be the bright advertising lights of McDonald's.
Historical
Mr Foy went on: "I am the first to accept that the town should be welcoming to businesses choosing to locate here, which brings jobs and provides a service to the community. However, in the location proposed, this application does nothing to enhance the character and image of the town as a prosperous, welcoming, historical town.
"One of the objectors [John Blake] refers to it as like driving into 'Mac-Drayton' and I can see the point made.
"My view is that McDonald's are welcomed to the town and I recognise that the town council has given this application its support. However, the current location is not appropriate and should be reconsidered by McDonald's as there are other locations that it could and should actively consider."
Between 1987 and 2011 Mr Foy worked on a number of housing projects for St Helens Council, including the Building Schools for the Future programme.
He was awarded an OBE for services to education in 2017 and currently holds a role at the Department for Education advising on the construction of schools.
McDonald's has been approached for comment.
