Locals divided on McDonald's plans for former pub

McDonald's wants to open a new restaurant on the site of the Old Red Lion pub in Leeds

Public heath officials in Leeds have said an application for a new McDonald's should be rejected due to fears over obesity rates in the surrounding area.

BBC News went to Whinmoor to ask residents what they thought about the plans.

Retired bricklayer Steve Wing lives on Baildon Close, directly opposite the Old Red Lion pub on York Road where the drive-thru restaurant is proposed.

"Why hold it back? Put a Big Mac up there," says the 67-year-old, taking a break from working on his car in the autumn sunshine.

"I don't see any common sense in knocking things back nowadays. We are supposed to be growing the economy, aren't we?"

Steve Wing has welcomed the plans for a new McDonald's restaurant

The council's public health report said one of the areas most likely to be impacted by the restaurant is Seacroft, one of the city's most deprived neighbourhoods.

"Put a Big Mac there and get some kids working," is Steve's suggestion, with a McDonald's spokesperson confirming the restaurant would create 120 jobs.

Other areas the council said would be most affected include Killingbeck, Crossgates and Whinmoor.

All four neighbourhoods have some of the highest obesity rates among adults and children in the city, according to the report.

"They are just interfering with people's lives," Steve says of its recommendations.

"A Big Mac used to be a treat, it needs to go back to that."

A McDonald's spokesperson said its menu had contained nutritional information for more than 30 years.

They added: "We continue to evolve our menu to ensure our customers can make informed choices, with 54% of our menu now classified as non-HFSS (not high in fat, salt or sugar) and 89% of the items in our core menu containing less than 500 calories."

A public consultation over the plans, with more than 500 responses, found 61% of people surveyed were supportive of the proposals for the disused site, which locals say has become a magnet for crime.

Mother-of-one Victoria has mixed feelings about the plans, but feels something has to change.

"When you are looking at that and we are getting tiles thrown off the roof across the road, anything is better than that," says the self-employed cleaner.

As a mum, how does she feel about the availability of fast food on her doorstep?

"I have got a young boy and if a McDonald's was there he would probably want a McDonald's a bit more often. It's hard to say no when it's close by."

Victoria has mixed feelings about the plans

James Gibson, who represents the Cross Gates and Whinmoor ward on Leeds City Council, says it is "heartbreaking" that the Old Red Lion has become dangerous, but the McDonald's proposal means the site would become safe.

"From the local people I’ve spoken with, their wish would be for the building to be restored to its former glory and become a community amenity. That’s my wish too.

"But it’s my understanding, that owing to the level of vandalism, this just isn’t a realistic option for the owners.

"McDonald's have come forward with a proposal that means the site will become safe, as well as providing lots of jobs for local people," he says.

However, Mr Gibson adds concerns around public health are justified.

"We know that eating unhealthy foods and being overweight can kill people.

"But there are also immediate risks with having such a dangerous building in the area.

"Ultimately though, this site is privately owned and it’s down to the owners who they choose to sell the land to."

The pub has fallen into disrepair with most of its windows and surrounding fence panels broken, and graffiti sprayed on the outer walls.

Meanwhile, the car park has been targeted by fly-tippers.

Another local resident, 38-year-old Adam, tells the BBC the majority of residents he has spoken to "are probably against" the plans.

"I'm of the view that a McDonald's that's looked after and managed is better than a derelict building that's falling apart and being robbed and wrecked."

A previous planning application for the restaurant was rejected in May, in part due to the impact on traffic on the adjacent A64 road. The public health report also cited concerns over increased air and traffic pollution.

Victoria describes the road as "very dangerous" and "one of the worst you can drive down", adding: "How are they going to put somewhere to stop for food?"

Jay has worries about the restaurant's impact on traffic

Those concerns are shared by Jay, who lives in Killingbeck but is in Whinmoor to visit his daughter and granddaughter who live here.

"There's enough [fast food restaurants] close enough - and they all deliver," says the 52-year-old.

"It's a busy road. You get enough issues as it is without the potential of people just wanting to feed themselves.

"It just seems odd to me [and] people are daft enough to want to be coming to it all the time."

Jay suggests people have fast food delivered instead and says he would rather see a play area for children built on the site.

A public consultation on the plans will run until 14 October, with the council's planning committee expected to decide on the plans in the coming months.

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