As local Green Party councillors representing the wards of Gleadless Valley and Nether Edge and Sharrow, we will be supporting the many local residents objecting to the proposed McDonald’s drive-through on London Road. It is not good for public health, nor for our many small local businesses. It will increase congestion on an already busy road. Since the community became aware of this proposal, lots of local people have contacted us with their concerns.
One big concern is for the health of pupils at nearby Lowfield School, which has the worst rates of air pollution of any school in Sheffield. London Road is already a difficult route for people walking, wheeling or cycling – including to the school – and the increased traffic going to the drive-through would make this worse. The existing walking route will be disrupted and made more dangerous by drivers entering and exiting the site.
There are already two McDonald’s outlets (and two KFC’s) nearby and we do not need another selling unhealthy, processed food. We have a lot of good local restaurants and takeaways in our area which might lose customers, costing jobs and livelihoods and taking money out of the local economy. Residents have also raised concerns about McDonald’s employment practices, human rights record and impact on the environment.
This land would be better used for affordable social housing, which the area needs far more than another McDonald’s. We will fight forcefully against this unwanted development.
Cllr Alexi Dimond, Cllr Paul Turpin (both Gleadless Valley) and Cllr Maroof Raouf (Nether Edge and Sharrow)
