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RESIDENTS IN THE Co Wicklow town of Greystones are campaigning to prevent a new McDonald’s restaurant being opened near a number of primary schools in the town.
The fast food chain is trying – again – to open a two-storey drive-thru at the Blacklion centre, close by Greystones Educate Together and Gaelscoil na gCloch Liatha primary schools, and Temple Carrig secondary school.
Wicklow County Council granted permission last year for a separate McDonald’s planning application for the site, but it was rejected by An Bórd Pleanala.
This time around the company has included a health and fitness studio in their plans, but a group of residents are adamant that the presence of a two-storey McD’s near three schools could be a disaster for the health of 1,800 local children.
In a formal letter to the council, objectors also claim that the McDonald’s restaurant would disrupt traffic, have a negative environmental impact, and lead to anti-social behaviour and litter.
Residents also point out that Department of Environment guidelines from 2013 encourage planning authorities to “promote active and healthier lifestyles.”
[Ensure that] exposure of children to the promotion of foods that are high in fat, salt or sugar is reduced, such as the careful consideration of the appropriateness and or location of fast food outlets in the vicinity of schools and parks.
The people of Greystones are far from unanimous on the subject of the new restaurant, however.
An online campaign in favour of allowing the new McDonald’s restaurant in Greystones has attracted significant support since it was started last Wednesday.
As far back as 2011, then Children’s Minister Frances Fitzgerald said the government was considering measures to “regulate the proliferation of fast food restaurants”
In March, she announced the possibility of an “exclusion zone” for fast food outlets when it comes to planning applications near schools.
McDonald’s, for their part, told TheJournal.ie in a statement that they don’t target schools when picking locations for restaurants, but the new one in Greystones would bring 60-80 jobs to the town.
McDonald’s fully complies with local planning guidelines and the relevant local area plan, the purpose of which is to build its outlets in sustainable retail environments.
Proximity to local schools is not a deciding factor or part of the criteria for McDonald’s when it comes to assessing suitable locations for new restaurants.
Each new McDonald’s restaurant supports local jobs, with the recruitment of between 60 and 80 full time positions, combined with an investment in the local community of €2 million.
Ray D’arcy 2nd from the bottom ? And what was his starting salary with RTE…… 200K?? Hardly money well spent.
Well done Anton Savage on Today FM … ahead of Ray in listenership ….after taking over his seat on a slightly lower,salary I’m sure!
Ray D’arcy is full of his own self importance. I thought we were rid of him when Enda Kenny was elected Taoiseach. That was the only reason I voted for Fine Gael. Ray, like the good politician he is, was just talking rubbish and looking for attention.
He’s part of the RTE elite…Miriam Callaghan etc….if they were that good they should go to UK.
Ah now, leave Miriam out of this. Miriam works her socks off. Not bad to look at either. Fantastic chest.
After all these years I still cannot explain the popularity of Joe Duffy…..
People love a medium to moan, his voice encourages it. Perfect marketing in Ireland.
A bit like the journal
Classic hits 4fm
Boom! You said it Helen
I’m liking Sean Moncrief more and more these days. It’s most still against my will. Perhaps it’s Stockholm syndrome having being captive in the car listening to him so much. Anyway in general I much rather radio. It allows me to do other things whilst being entertained or informed.
there a shower of overpaid morons in RTE how they can justify their wages is crazy that’s why the licence is so high ,you know if they shut down the station most of us would be €160 a year better off and we still would not be at a loss for entertainment
when u have a never ending budget u can hire whoever u like to make ratings .
What the JNLR don’t tell us is how much time we are spending listening to radio….
National Radio is a straight choice between either Communicorp or RTE….either way the listener doesn’t benefit, from Current Affairs programs that is…
We need new media as much as we need a new political infrastructure!!!
JNLR DOES actually tell us how much time we spend listening to radio – around 4 hours a day.
I ONLY listen to Radio Nova – although NOT a National Radio Station – at least I get decent music without the CRAP the Biggie Boyos dish out to an unsuspecting National populace. AND I don’t have to listen to inane DJs pretending to understand politics or some pseudo-nationalistic beliefs …
an insult to the real NOVA 87 FM AND 819 AM!
88
Radio Nova seem to have a playlist of 100 songs on a loop.
“..Radio Nova…playing all over Dublin…. Nowwwwww ….”
Great station, great memories
Chris Carey RIP
BBC RADIO 2 via tunein radio app
They say in the heading that size matters in radio land what do they mean big smile or big tits
i don’t get ray darcy on rte 1 i get the impression that he thinks he just has to turnup
What big eyes you have Miriam. …..lol
Any chance of getting that moron Marty Whelan off Lyric FM? It’s supposed to be a “classical music” station not “Housewives’ Choice”!
Nova with pat Courtney. He’s brilliant!!!
Way to ignore all the regional and local radio stations – in many areas, they easily have 40-66% of the Audience share in the places they broadcast to. But yet none of them merit any praise?
talksport via tunein radio for me.
Where’s Stevo from Sunshine Radio gone ?
Why don’t they contact me when they do theses so called survey s and I will b able to tel them why I don’t listen to RTE radio I prefer independent radio from round d country coz it gives me local stories in Dublin especially radio Kerry from 9am each morning
Absolute Radio
Marty Whelan is pure genius. So happy he’s on Lyric in the morning. There is no competitor to him to my mind. Lyric overall is a great station, John Kelly Ensemble, Jazz, Movies and Musicals, Niall Carroll etc., etc. a great mix. I predict Lyric’s star will continue to rise into the future. Its a bit undiscovered maybe. Marty is introducing people more and more to it.
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