McDonald’s Cowes ‘Drive Thru’ Plan Sparks Backlash As Petition Closes In On 1,300 Signatures

McDonald’s has launched a second phase of public consultation on its plans to deliver a new ‘drive thru’ restaurant in an Isle of Wight town.

The fast-food giant said the proposal would transform a vacant site on Cowes’s Three Gates Road into a ‘modern employment facility’ and contribute to the Island’s wider economy.

Its ‘economic boost’ to the area would create around 100 – 120 full and part-time jobs, McDonald’s said.

The second consultation round, which runs from October 9 to October 23, has come as a petition against the bid this week reached 1,293 signatures.

Started by Cowes resident Alexis Hollis, it reads:

“Living in Cowes, we enjoy the semi-rural environment of the residential part of Three Gates Road, where some residents have lived for over 20 years.

“It’s a place where residents can enjoy the simple pleasures of a quiet neighbourhood, where wildlife thrives on the verdant patches of land.

“McDonald’s plans to open a drive-through on our little road, a location that seems entirely out of place for such a development.

“The site they have chosen is not just any plot; it’s opposite a residential area surrounded by nature, a hub of wildlife that will be irrevocably harmed should construction proceed.

“Imagine the lights, the noise, litter and the constant cars – all these could disrupt the peace of our little community and the ecosystems that call these pockets of land home.”

A spokesperson for McDonald’s told the press:

“Thank you to everyone who took part in our initial public consultation in July.

“As part of our commitment to community consultation, we are holding a second round of consultation on our proposals.

“A new McDonald’s restaurant for Cowes will deliver significant job opportunities for local people on a site that is currently vacant.

“I would therefore encourage local people with an interest in the scheme to take part in our further round of public consultation and share any further views about our proposals with us directly.”

Residents can share their views on the new McDonald’s proposal online at mcdonaldsconsultation.co.uk/cowes, via a freephone number on 0808 304 2347, by emailing feedback@mcdonaldsconsultation.co.uk or writing to Cavendish Consultation

Response, 8-10 Mansion House Place, London, EC4N 8BJ.

As part of the consultation, McDonald’s will host an in-person exhibition from 3pm to 7pm at Cowes Baptist Church next Thursday (October 16).