An online petition has been launched in a bid to prevent McDonald's from building a new restaurant in Glossop.

The fast food chain wants to open a new franchise on the site of the former Wren’s Nest pub on Glossop Brook Road. 

But the plans are dividing the local community, with some people supporting the idea while others are opposed to it.

McDonald's say the new restaurant will bring more than 60 jobs to the town. Some locals say it’ll be good and encourage more visitors to the town, as currently the nearest one is at Mottram. 

However, opponents say it’ll contribute to poor health and will increase litter in the area around Wren’s Nest.

Supporters of the burger chain say it won’t create any extra litter as McDonald’s provide plenty of bins.

The company does have litter pickers and provide extra bins. They also have a rota for emptying the bins regularly but they are only required to do so within 100 metres of their facility.

Jane Fantom, from Glossop, set up the online petition earlier this month and it has already had more than 500 signatures. 

She said: "Comments on the Change.org petition highlight a number of concerns about McDonald’s as a global enterprise as well as the impact the development will have on the town.

“The consensus is that Glossop deserves better and should be protected from multi-national corporate enterprises who will tarnish the town’s heritage and spoil its character via littering, increased traffic congestion and pollution.

“Our supporters are also concerned about an increase in anti-social behaviour, crime and noise associated with a McDonalds site being open for long hours late at night.

“There are major concerns about the fast-food industry contributing massively to poor health including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, strokes, dementia, cancer, malnutrition, auto-immune diseases, and food addiction due to the high levels of fat, salt, sugar, and artificial flavours included in their meals.”

A McDonald’s spokesperson said: "We pride ourselves on the positive contributions we make in communities across the UK, and we proudly operate our business in a responsible way, beneficial to those in the immediate and surrounding areas. We hope for a decision that will allow us to demonstrate this.”

McDonald's also say it will lead to increased investment in the area, as well as business rates payable on the new restaurant to High Peak Borough Council for the council to spend on the provision of key local services. 

They also say it would also reduce car journeys to neighbouring towns, lead to increase spending in the local economy and redevelop a derelict building. 

McDonalds has more than 1,400 restaurants across the UK and Ireland, employing over 130,000 people.

You can find the online petition here: https://www.change.org/p/high-peak-council-planning-oppose-mc-donalds-glossop-high-peak-planning-application

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