New McDonald’s in Surrey Town Approved Despite Youth Concerns
A new McDonald’s in Caterham has been approved, sparking mixed reactions from locals about potential youth gatherings
Caterham, Surrey, McDonald’s, Youth Concerns, Antisocial Behaviour
Caterham: So, guess what? A new McDonald’s is coming to town! The council just gave it the green light, even though some folks are worried about young people hanging around.
This McDonald’s will be set up in a spot that used to be a charity shop. The planning committee had a bit of a debate, but they finally voted 6 to 4 in favor. It’s a big deal for the area!
Over 200 letters were sent in, with opinions split right down the middle. Some people are excited about the jobs it’ll bring, while others are concerned about the potential for trouble.
Speaking for McDonald’s, Charlie Browns said this is a great chance to use empty retail spaces and create around 120 jobs. That’s 30 full-time and 90 part-time positions, which could really help the local economy.
Andrew Brown from the Business Improvement District thinks it’ll boost the high street. He believes the extra foot traffic will be like having a big event every day. Sounds promising, right?
Even though there were some worries about traffic and deliveries, the council decided it was a good spot for a fast food place. They figured it would be a hassle to fight against it if they didn’t approve it.
Some councillors were worried about mopeds causing chaos outside the restaurant. They mentioned that if they park on the pavement, action could be taken. Good to know they’re keeping an eye on that!
Most of the space in the new McDonald’s will be for the kitchen and back office, with only 60 seats for dining. This led to concerns that it’ll mostly be a takeaway spot.
One councillor, Alun Jones, questioned if McDonald’s would stick to its delivery radius. He thinks the number of deliveries could really impact the neighborhood. It’s a valid point!
To ease some worries, they set delivery hours from 7 am to 10 pm and limited waste collection times. They’re trying to keep things in check.
Residents are also worried about antisocial behavior, especially with some past incidents in nearby Redhill. To tackle this, they’re adding CCTV inside and outside the restaurant.
One local speaker, Martin Redman, wasn’t too thrilled about the new place. He thinks it’ll attract rowdy young people and scare off other customers. Not exactly what you want for your town!
Some councillors debated if having the police station nearby would be enough to curb any trouble. Cllr Bryan Black pointed out that McDonald’s has a plan to handle these issues, which is reassuring.