FAST-FOOD giant McDonald's has once again found itself up against a mass protest with its plans to open a new restaurant.

Reporter Michelle Fleming speaks to the residents battling to keep McDonald's out of their backyards.

Residents across the county have fought to stop McDonald's opening on a number of new sites over the last few years.

While the company argues that its restaurants bring many benefits to the community, homeowners living near proposed McDonalds say it will only bring more noise, traffic, and pollution.

The most recent residents' battle against a McDonald's is in Loudwater where campaigners have now formed an official action group whose sole purpose is to fight the plan.

Residents Against McDonald's (RAM) is protesting against the restaurant chain building a drive-thru on the old site of the White Blackbird Public House on the London Road.

The outcry of residents echoes almost identical concerns by Loudwater residents more than two years ago when McDonald's applied to build on another London Road site.

Despite numerous appeals and re-applications by the chain, the company eventually backed down and withdrew its application after residents organised a petition against it.

Tempers flared again in Marlow in 1998 when the restaurant, who cite 'accessibility, convenience and price as their location formula', announced plans to build in the town.

The application was eventually withdrawn. In April this year, another application was withdrawn to build on Little Kingshill's London Road after more than 300 letters and a 500 strong petition was handed to Chiltern District Council.

Already protestors have gathered at the site of the former White Blackbird Pub to protest and have presented a 300 signature petition to Wycombe District Council, which is likely to hear the proposals at its planning applications panel later this month.

"It is just not acceptable that the quality of family's lives will be ruined if this proposal is accepted," said Cllr Debbie Lewis (Con, Loudwater).

"The noise and smells that will be reeking into these people's backyards, as well as inevitable litter is unthinkable," she added.

A spokesperson for the food giant pointed to the successful operation of restaurants in such areas and added that once up and running the whole community benefited through its many community and sponsorship projects.

But many Loudwater residents can only foresee problems if the plan is allowed to go ahead.

Fears that the quiet village site will become a dumping ground and a magnet for rats are being overshadowed by concerns that excess traffic on the already busy road will see it becoming a hazard.

Julie Hanif, a RAM spokesman, who lives beside the proposed site on Burfield Road, said that they would be calling on independent as well as Wycombe District Council traffic experts in the hope that they will prove that building such an outlet will cause traffic problems.

"We aim to expose the many problems that will turn a quiet community village into a dangerous, gridlocked and pollution ridden place to live in. London Road is heavily congested as it is without the additional traffic that the site will inevitably cause."

"We were quite disjointed before but now we have the structure of a professional working group we will be able to get a lot more done."

A McDonald's spokesman refuted suggestions that the chain will cause problems with traffic and has submitted an independent traffic statement to Wycombe District Council.

"Our assessment has concluded that the majority of customers using McDonald's would already be users of the London Road and would have less than a one per cent impact on traffic during peak times."

However Cllr Lewis believes that it is impossible to gauge the extra influx of traffic.

"Once people know it's there one cannot say how many will use it and it will also attract travellers from the motorway. London Road is already gridlocked at times and this could lead to disaster," she added.

"McDonald's has been wanting to build around here for years so we have been on the look-out constantly to see where they may try next."

Cllr David Fieldhouse (Cons, Bowerdean and Daws Hill) and member of Wycombe District Council's planning committee said he will wait until all the arguments are put forward until he decides if he agrees with the plans.

"Everyone has to be considered. People will find it handy to have a McDonald's nearby and it is what to expect of modern enterprise. But I do recognise concerns and am keeping an open mind for now."

A website address has been set up to keep the community informed and RAM are holding a meeting on Sunday at the Royal British Legion, Queensmead Road.

Should McDonald's locate at Loudwater?

Ernie Shankster, 72, is a retired fireman from Hicks Farm Rise in High Wycombe.

"I don't think anyone would be happy to have such a busy fast food restaurant on their doorstep especially somewhere like a quiet village," he said.

"Besides what they say, there is always a mess, they should stay out of the way of residential areas as much as they can."

Patricia Hayward, 71, of Beaconsfield, is retired and used to work in a drawing office.

"I disagree with McDonald's moving into quieter areas as they tend to blur the barriers between towns and villages. We are seeing this dropping of standards as to what is built where all the time and I definitely sympathise with those who have to live beside one."

Tylisia Marshall, 18, is a nightclub worker from Squirrel Lane, Booker.

"As far as a proposed restaurant in Loudwater, I can't see what the problem is as it used to be a nightclub and a drive-thru would hardly generate more rubbish and noise than there. Drive-thru customers take their rubbish with them anyway. I can't see what the fuss is."

Mark Ward, 40, is a sales executive from Kingsmead in High Wycombe.

"I think McDonald's in villages should be avoided if at all possible as they truly bring down the tone of the area. The noise and litter would be terrible.

"Ideally they should locate in industrial estates or other out of town areas. The traffic would be horrendous."

Richard Street, 32, is a film re-recording mixer from Hazlemere.

"I'm totally against McDonald's seeping into quieter areas as it causes so much bother to locals who have to suffer the yobs and noise," he said.

"There is plenty of wastelands they could use instead of ruining a nice spot. Nobody would want one locating next door to them."

Voteline results

PROPOSALS for a new McDonald's drive-thru restaurant in Loudwater have been given the thumbs down by Free Press website users.

A voteline was set up on the site three weeks ago asking people to vote on whether or not they wanted the proposed restaurant to be opened on the site of the former White Blackbird pub on the A40.

Some 225 voters took part, with 72 per cent saying no to McDonald's and 28 per cent saying yes.

Local residents are worried the restaurant would cause an unacceptable level of traffic congestion, litter and noise.

Wycombe District Council has yet to make a decision on the planning application.