Crediton may soon have its first McDonald’s

Crediton may soon have its first McDonald’s, but local opinion appears to be split about it.

The fast-food giant has applied to build a new restaurant with a drive-thru on Joseph Locke Way, close to the town’s Tesco.

It claims the plan will provide the opportunity for it to meet a “long-standing requirement for a restaurant to serve this catchment area, to meet customer demand and introduce additional choice in the market.”

Currently the nearest branches are in Exeter, while there are two McDonald’s in Mid Devon, in Tiverton and Cullompton.

In a planning statement, Mid Devon’s planning department is told the restaurant represents a “multi-million-pound investment by a national operator in Crediton,” while it is expected to employ more than 120 full and part-time staff from the local area.

Able to accommodate up to 76 customers, the proposed design is single-storey, with a drive-thru, parking spaces, landscaping, and a play frame for children.

But while some public comments are in favour of the application, others have written in objection.

One person said: “I support the development of a McDonald’s being built in Crediton. A lot of people travel to Exeter or Tiverton for a McDonald’s meal. I believe it would benefit the town by bringing more people to Crediton, plus the employment benefits.

“Crediton needs to grow with the times or it will become a ghost town which nobody wants.”

Similarly, another supporter believes it “can only be a good thing for the town,” adding: “It will open up new jobs within the community, especially for those younger people looking for work.

“People will come from elsewhere to visit, potentially visiting Mole Avon and doing a food shop in Tesco which will bring more money into our town.”

However, writing against the application, someone said: “I just don’t think Crediton needs a fast-food joint.

“Why do we need this when we have such a varied choice of local restaurants and pubs in the area?” they ask. “It will take away from the town centre. Will they be using locally sourced ingredients?”

Meanwhile, another objector said: “My main concern of allowing this development will be the impact on the traffic flow on the A377 with the inevitable queues backing up on to the main route in/out of the town, access to the doctor’s surgery and the other retail outlets.

“Another concern is the litter that the fast-food outlets produce through lack of bins in the area and the bins not regularly being emptied, which will affect the wildlife.”

The company says it is “committed to tackling litter in as many different ways as possible,” including a minimum of three daily litter patrols, while bins are provided outside all restaurants.

The application will likely be considered by Mid Devon’s planning committee in the coming months.

By Ollie Heptinstall, local democracy reporter.