CONCERNED residents gathered at the Victoria Ground on Monday night to protest plans to open a McDonald's drive-thru restaurant near Bromsgrove town centre.

The meeting was organised by residents after the fast food giant submitted an official planning application to build a new branch off the junction between Birmingham Road and Stourbridge Road last month.

The proposal was met by enthusiasm on social media, but nearly 100 neighbours of the site, which is currently used as a council-run car park, have voiced concerns over traffic congestion, pollution, litter, and childhood obesity levels - with three schools less than a six-minute walk away.

Representatives from Bromsgrove Sporting Football Club joined objectors at Monday's meeting, and criticised the loss of parking spaces, as well as the restaurant's effect on local businesses.

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Phil Baker, from Sporting's board of directors, said: "From the club's point of view, Saturday afternoon is when McDonald's restaurants are at their busiest, but we could have three and a half thousand fans attending our matches, if last season is anything to go by.

"It's already a struggle for some of them to find somewhere to park and if the Stourbridge Road car park goes, there's no where - unless you want to walk for 20 minutes."

Club chairman Mike Burke added: "There's a danger the restaurant would take much needed money off the club's own cafes.

"Plus people who visit McDonald's are less likely to buy food in the town centre.

"Bromsgrove has a selection of excellent shops but McDonald's would take business off them, and do the council really want to see more boarded up shops in the town centre?"

County councillor for Bromsgrove West Luke Mallet, who spoke at the meeting alongside district councillor Rod Laight, said he had already submitted his objections.

"This is the wrong development for this location," said Cllr Mallet. "I have lots of concerns but above all it risks further adding to the traffic gridlock in central Bromsgrove.

"I believe planning to put hundreds of extra peak time vehicle trips onto one of the most congested junctions in Bromsgrove is crazy, and I would urge the district council's planners to say no."

The restaurant would seat around 120 diners, and feature an outdoor dining patio, 38 car parking spaces, including two disabled, and eight bicycle racks.

A spokesman for McDonald's said: "We believe that a new restaurant would bring positive investment to the area, as well as providing at least 65 full and part-time jobs.

"We appreciate that some concerns have been raised in the residents' meeting and we are committed to work with the local community and council to address these.”

The deadline for residents to comment on the proposal, via the district council's website or by post, is January 29, although late submissions will still be considered.