McDonald’s Drive-Thru Plans Deferred After Council Meeting

Proposals for a new McDonald’s drive-thru been deferred following a meeting by the council’s planning committee.
The decision over plans which could see the creation of a new drive-thru McDonald’s based in the village of Alltwen, near Pontardawe, were postponed after a meeting on July 23, where requests were made from members for a visit to the site.
Those in attendance heard how the plans would include a McDonald’s drive-thru restaurant with landscaping, 31 car parking spaces and children’s play frame based on part of the car park at the Tesco Pontardawe store if approved.
The proposal was brought before the committee by councillors after what was said to be a high number of representations, including those from both Pontardawe and Cilybebyll councils who felt they were not suitable for the area.
The plans read: “The proposed development comprises of a modern free-standing single storey McDonald’s restaurant with drive-thru, car parking, landscaping and associated works, including customer order displays and a play frame.
“Provision is made for takeaway customers, both from the counter and from the drive-thru lane. The restaurant has a gross internal area of 350sqm of which 78sqm is for indoor dining. An external play area is located on the external patio area, with facilities for younger customers to climb and explore.”
Opinion was split after a total of 149 representations had been received from members of the public, with 77 objecting the plans, and 72 supporting.
Concerns raised over the development focused on issues with the increased amount of traffic the restaurant could cause, as well as the possibility of driving footfall out of the town centre and impacting child obesity with the site located close to Cwmtawe Community School and Godre’rgraig Primary’s temporary location.
Reference was also made to the Pontardawe Community plan which “wishes to encourage visitors to Pontardawe from outside the area by publicising its market town feel” with small independent shops, village festivals, history and heritage.
Following a vote, the decision over the whether or not the fast food giant can go ahead with the plans will now be deferred until members of the planning committee have a site visit in order to gain more information on the project. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​