McDonald’s plan for popular Sheffield venue sparks ‘sticky, awful’ outrage.

Plans for McDonald’s to take over an empty unit on a popular Sheffield street have sparked outrage among local residents.

A planning application for a fast food takeaway in the premises previously occupied by Amarao Lounge has been submitted to Sheffield City Council. The name of the restaurant has been carefully removed from all documents except for a graphic on page 23 of a noise impact assessment which states “Proposed McDonald’s Restaurant, Eccleshall (sic) Road”.

Eccleshall Road, which was once recognized for its luxury shopping and independent businesses, has been taken over by several fast food chains and cafes in the past few years.

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If successful, the McDonald’s will adjoin Zaap Thai Street Food and be just a few doors down from Nandos and Pizza Express. Locals took to social media to express concerns that the fast food chain’s opening would result in an “influx of litter” in the area, as well as an increase in “anti-social and traffic behaviour”.

Josie Bland commented: “Imagine the bedding. Sticky, terrible, disgusting, adds nothing to the area but fatter people, more traffic and trash. Terrible idea, I hope it doesn’t happen,” and Nikisha Woods added: “More chains = softer.”

Harry Chapman said: “It will mean increased congestion, litter and anti-social behaviour. That’s why it was rejected over 20 years ago at the Berkeley Center.”

Sammy Lou wrote: “Far too many chains on Ecclesall Rd as it is. Looks like a mess at the ATM… Empty shops littered with broken curb stones. I’ve never seen him look such a tired mess. We should ditch this and encourage individual small businesses to thrive! Sharrowvale is a shining example!”

Tricia Flynn added: “Endcliffe Park will suffer from an influx of litter.” But the possibility of another McDonalds opening its doors in the city did not come as bad news for everyone. Other residents expressed support for the plans, saying they would rather the facility be filled with a McDonald’s than sit empty, while some shared their hope it would help bring jobs to the area.

Scott Mills wrote: “They are the only businesses that can afford the exorbitant rents. You’d rather see a McDonald’s trading and employing people, then an empty building.”

Adele Jones said: “I don’t see the problem with it. There are already other well known fast food joints on Eccy Rd… KFC, Subway, Dominos, so why not McDonalds? It’s better than a place being empty and looking messy. Maybe it’s all the other fast food takeaways that object. Eccy Road is not the high-end premium high street it once was years ago, so there is no need for snobbery.”

Polly Perkins commented: “Eccy Road is an absolute horror these days, rubbish everywhere, empty shops and bad food abounds. Property prices might still be high, but I certainly don’t see them as even close to “posh” anymore.

Ryan Smith added: “Think I might be the only one who wouldn’t mind a maccies on eccy rd. It exempts me from shipping charges. It creates jobs and stops the emptying of another facility. You don’t see people complaining about the three coffee chains within 100 meters of each other.”

McDonald’s has been contacted for further comment.

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