I AM writing regarding the proposed application for a McDonald's restaurant on the site of the old Carr Mill Cafe at Carr Mill crossroads.
I support the views were put forward in Ms Barbara Walsh's recent letter to the Star regarding the planning application for the siting of a new McDonald's at Windle Island.
Residents of Carr Mill Road have also received notification of a similar application for what we believe would be a McDonald's restaurant on the East Lancashire Road on the site of the old Carr Mill cafe which has been closed down for many months.
We have made our views known to the council that we do not, under any circumstances want this proposal to go ahead as we would anticipate exactly the same problems regarding Traffic and litter along Carr Mill Road that Ms Walsh outlined in her letter with regard to Windle Island.
The Carr Mill crossroads, like Windle Island, is a very busy traffic junction where there have been fatal accidents over the last few years. Many schoolchildren cross the roads near Carr Mill in order to catch their school buses and the heavily-congested roads are already dangerous for them.
Traffic in the rush hours is already causing problems for residents in gaining access to their own property, without having to cope with the estimated 650 additional vehicles that it is claimed would be generated by the new McDonald's should the planning application be approved. Also, Carr Mill has been generally regarded as a beauty spot over the years and many of the current residents, several of whom are now pensioners, bought bungalows in the area with this in mind. Having paid their rates and community charge to the council for many years, they do not now wish to face the problems of having to cope with the noise and large quantities of litter and parked cars that would be prevalent in the area should the plans be approved. We already have a problem of a rat infestation in Carr Mill Road, which could only be aggravated by half-eaten burgers being left lying around the street.
I would also point out that Carr Mill already houses plenty of eating establishments near the crossroads, namely the Waterside Hotel, the Chung Ku Chinese Restaurant and the Carr Mill Hotel. Surely these provide enough business and entertainment in the area for anyone.
Are there not enough McDonald's restaurants in the world as it is without having to have them encroaching on our doorsteps in the pursuit of yet more profit for the company? Surely such establishments belong in city and town centres close to shopping areas rather than people's residences.
I would be very grateful if you could print this letter, so that Mrs Walsh knows that others share her views and are willing to lend their support to her arguments.
Lynn Farthman, Carr Mill Road, Carr Mill.
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