Three years after their last attempt, McDonald’s is trying again to foist one of their large, fast-food joints on Westow Street, in the heart of the Crystal Palace Triangle.
The last time they tried, the council’s planning department rejected as “inappropriate” the proposal for a 24/7 takeaway outlet – thanks to objections from a ward councillor and the Met Police, who suggested that such a business might be a draw for gang crime.
The council’s planning department received almost one thousand letters of opposition from residents, a record response.
The proposition this time round is subtly different, but is nonetheless likely to be a cause for concern for many locals who live in or close to the two nearby conservation areas, as they anticipate moped-riding delivery riders going backwards and forwards at all times of the day and night. Parents of pupils at nearby schools also previously raised concerns.
A newly selected Tory parliamentary candidate has piped up with a non-committal question on social media, while the Liberal Democrat councillor for the ward, Claire Bonham, has started to put key questions to McDonald’s and their development agents. Nothing’s been heard from local Labour councillors, nor from the area’s Labour MP.
In an email last week from agents Cavendish Consulting to Councillor Bonham, they confirmed plans for a “more traditional McDonald’s restaurant with seating and reduced opening hours”. The Poundland site on Westow Street is their potential location.
“Croydon Council quite rightly rejected the application from McDonald’s three years ago, so I will be keen to see how any future planning application from them will differ from the last one,” Bonham told Inside Croydon.
“I would urge McDonald’s to fully engage with the local community and share their plans so that residents get a clear and detailed picture of what is being proposed and when.
Asking questions: Cllr Claire Bonham
“Many residents will have strong feelings about McDonald’s opening a restaurant in the Crystal Palace Triangle. I am very keen to hear locals’ views on the matter – whether positive, negative or indifferent.”
The 2019 application for a 24-hour “McDonald’s to Go”, a takeaway restaurant with no seating, drew concerns about the proposed access and the risk of anti-social behaviour. It came at a time when landlords were doubling the rents for some of the shops in the area, driving out the small independent traders which provide much of the character of the Triangle area.
In 2019, the police objections were summarised by the council as “likely to give rise to gang activity”; “potential for increased rates of robbery”; “already anti-social behaviour problems which would worsen”; “lack of parking could lead to conflicts”; “potential for more road accidents, especially involving scooters”.
In a letter to McDonald’s consultants outlining the reasons for refusal, the council said that the planned outlet “would create unacceptable levels of noise and disturbance for nearby residents, harming living conditions”.
The planners added: “There are also police concerns due to the proposal causing an increased likelihood of anti-social behaviour and other crime in the vicinity.”
Other reasons for refusal given by the planners cited “inadequate parking facilities” which “would have negative implications for highway safety”. This, the planners wrote, “is therefore not considered to comply with Local Plan (2018) policy DM 29”.
Residents wishing to contact Councillor Bonham can email her at claire.bonham@croydonlibdems.org.
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In 2019, the police objections were summarised by the council as “likely to give rise to gang activity”; “potential for increased rates of robbery”; “already anti-social behaviour problems which would worsen”; “lack of parking could lead to conflicts”; “potential for more road accidents, especially involving scooters”.
The same could be said for North End, Church Street, London road and even Norfolk house and the loitering area in front of Southern house opposite the College – yet they got permission.
There is no McDonalds at Broad Green yet we have takeaway bikes down our road and on the pavements. I posted one deliveroo bike on the deliveroo site that drove on the pavement from no 2 to number 18 so busy not looking he nearly crashed a pram coming out onto the pavement. The cars blocking drives and the corners at both ends of the road 20 hours of the day. There is so much crime its hard to not notice as it is so in your face every day.
Yet Croydon Plannning have never taken any notice of those objections. So why would they at Crystal Palace?
Claire is dead right she should listen to her residents and take it forward, but its not the McDonalds that is the problem –
The difference, surely, is that the town centre Maccie Ds you cite are all long-established, and are unlikely to have their planning permissions questioned at this stage. They are also in an area that is supposed to have a mix of retail outlets, including cafes and “restaurants”.
The Crystal Palace Triangle is different (although the site that is being considered is a Poundland).
But just because you have done something in the past, and its turned sour, is not a reason for repeating or revisiting that mistake, surely?
Totally agree with every point made, except for some reason with Croydon Planning that is exactly what they do, repeat but sadly do not visit to check condtions are met.
I will be delighted when they change and remedy as will Crystal Palace and everyone suffering from there continual repeats.