MCDONALD’S will go large in Rugby town centre after plans to build a new two-storey branch at the old Gala Bingo site in Evreux Way were approved by Rugby Borough Council (RBC).
RBC’s planning committee voted in favour of the new restaurant by seven votes to five, despite concerns over anti-social behaviour, litter, traffic, and McDonald’s already having three branches in the Rugby area – including one in the town centre.
The fast food giant’s new site will create at least 65 new full and part-time jobs.
The restaurant, which will include a drive-through service, will be built on land currently being used as a car park, retaining 43 of the existing 100 spaces.
In a report recommending the plan to councillors, planning officer Karen McCulloch said the development of the site would “result in social and economic benefits as well as environmental benefits” and “would represent sustainable development”.
She said: “Jobs would be created and the proposed restaurant may attract new customers to the town centre. The scheme would provide an additional service within the town centre to be used by members of the community.
“The site could be accessed by alternative modes of transport to the car such as by public transport, walking and cycling. This would minimise pollution.”
She added that concerns raised by RBC’s Environmental Services department regarding increased traffic were of limited weight because there was no evidence to dispute transport figures agreed by the Highway Authority.
She added: “The development will also make effective use of previously developed land. In addition, the redevelopment of the existing car park will not harm the character and appearance of the area.”
All seven Conservatives on the planning committee voted in favour, with all three Labour councillors and both Lib Dem councillors voting against.
Coun Jim Ellis of Labour said: “We are disappointed that the Tory members of the planning committee voted unanimously to give planning consent to a two-story McDonald’s opposite the town hall on the Gala site.
“The Labour and Liberal members used the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework) and made contextual, justified material objection.
“But when it came to the vote, all Tory members voted to allow for the McDonalds to be built.
“We made fierce, justified arguement, but we were outvoted. Other members were not prepared to listen.
“Because of this, our personal response is to be on record as opposing the development because we strongly feel this is the wrong decision.”
A spokesperson for Rugby Liberal Democrats said: “Conservative councillors on the planning committee voted in favour of the drive-through.
“Both Lib Dems moved and seconded a refusal but this was rejected. Where is the vision and ambition for the town centre?”
Gala Bingo, the last building to have stood on the site, closed in 2011 and was demolished soon after. It was previously Rugby Granada Theatre, which famously hosted two Rolling Stones concerts in 1964.
In 2013, the Clock Towers Shopping Centre – now Rugby Central – revealed plans for a £20million retail-led expansion onto the Gala site.
The centre’s then owners CBRE Global Investors abandoned the plans due to lack of interest from retailers and replaced them with a similar leisure-led expansion – but this plan was also scrapped by CT Properties, who bought the mall in 2015.
The Observer is awaiting a response from McDonald’s as to whether its nearby Market Place branch would close down.
