I WAS shocked and delighted this week to drive past a sign in Loudwater objecting to plans for a new drive-through McDonald's.

I previously assumed the gutbucket population of South Bucks would be hugely in favour of this new restaurant.

A large placard was stuck outside the now-closed White Blackbird pub, the site of the proposed fast food outlet. It warned of extra litter, extra traffic and late night noise.

I later learnt there is a 300-signature petition against the restaurant. This surprised me because all the people I talk to, mostly slothful media-types, are in favour of this explosion of burgers, fries and milk shakes.

I, on the other hand, think it's a sad day for British culture when a public house is closed down and an American fast food joint is stuck in its place.

We Brits have precious little culture to cling on to as it is. Try going on holiday to Italy or France, for instance.

We might mock them as losers in the last war, but these nations thrash us hands down when it comes to food.

In Italy, the majority of restaurants are Italian, serving local food. The residents of Rome and Venice don't have to say "let's go out for an Italian". Instead, they enjoy excellent local food of which they are very proud.

The same goes for France, Spain, Greece, Mexico, China and most other countries. Even America, as loathsome as their food is, takes some pride in its own homebaked meals.

In England, however, our indigenous food is now Indian curries, because the rest of our grub is mostly cholesterol-filled rubbish. Fish 'n chips and roast beef with Yorkshire pud are all very well, but punters don't exactly flock to eat British food in restaurants.

I mean, can you imagine an Italian or Indian family saying: "Let's go out for an English"?

No, the only culture that we can outdo the rest of the world on can be found in our great English pubs. There's nothing like them around the world, and yet they are fast being transformed into parking lots, flats and now, heaven forbid, a McDonald's.

Our entire heritage will disappear soon and we'll end up importing all of our entertainment from abroad.

I don't actually have anything against a McDonald's per se but losing another pub is just sheer sacrilege.