New McDonald's in Ross leaves residents in fear for children's lives

The proposed entrance to the new site, off the A40 in Ross-on-Wye, will be via a small roundabout currently only leading to a housing estate, documents submitted to Herefordshire Council planners showed.

Residents living in St Mary’s Garden Village are concerned that the new McDonald’s will cause pupils at the nearby John Kyrle High School to cross the busy main road, set to see more cars as a result of the proposed development.

Consultants working on the scheme for McDonald's said 2,444 car journeys would be expected a day, if the development gets the green light from planners.

Julia Batty, resident of St Marys Garden Village

Estate resident Julia Batty is leading neighbours who are trying to stop the scheme and said the traffic would be a major problem.

She said: "Children won't be safe. You already take your life in your heads when you cross that roundabout, can you imagine what it's going to be like with McDonald's traffic.

"Traffic is going to be a major problem for everybody.”

School buses will drive past the McDonald’s sign on their route.

John Kyrle High School and McDonald’s did not respond when asked to comment.

Residents are also concerned about children living in the village as they play outside on the quiet roads and green areas.

But residents fear the roads will be a lot busier if fast food chain is given the green light by planners.

"Residents won't allow their children to play outside for fear being hit by traffic," Mrs Batty said.

Marie Aslanian lives in the village with her two young children of two and four years old and said she would fear for their safety.

Marie Aslanian's children: Son Charlie, 4, and daughter Lucy, 2

She said: "The bedroom that they will be sleeping in faces out onto the proposed McDonald site.

"This isn't the same as dual carriageway pollution, this is cars driving in low gears in and around the drive thru 24/7 just metres away from where my babies sleep.

"My children play at the park which is only a few metres away from our house and on the road that will inevitably become a short cut for McDonald's customers, posing a real safety concern for all the young children that go to play at that park and the surrounding area.

"We most likely will have a congested roundabout trying to get home at rush hour. Not just our St. Mary's Garden Village roundabout on the bypass but also the Ross labels Roundabout will be backed up too."

Planning notice pinned on proposed access point (Image: Hattie Young)

Edenstone, which owns the estate, has objected to plans, with consultation ending on September 16.

Herefordshire council planners have set a target determination of September 27.