SIXTY-FIVE jobs will be created in a town centre after plans to build a McDonald’s were approved.
Nelson Committee approved the proposal to turn Nelson’s former bus station and multi-storey car park into a 24-hour drive-thru fast food restaurant, during a meeting at Nelson Town Hall on Monday.
It will be the first McDonald’s to open in Nelson and the 14th in East Lancashire. The developer, Future Properties (1st) Ltd, said it will take between nine and 12 months to complete. The new store is expected to open in Spring 2020.
Future Properties (1st) Ltd managing director Mohammed Asjad said: “It goes to show with hard work and passion for the town you can make things happen.”
Mr Asjad, from Reedley, has said the creation of McDonald’s will continue to help regenerate the town following the arrival of other big businesses such as Costa Coffee in August 2017 and Home Bargains last December.
He said: “A big name like McDonald’s can attract big name companies on the back of them because more people will come into Nelson.
“The town has been in decline for the last 20 years. We have the same amount of people as Burnley here in Nelson but if you go to Burnley it’s booming.
"There’s nothing stopping Nelson getting to that level with the help of the local council.”
Former Pendle Council leader Mohammed Iqbal, a member of Nelson Committee, said he welcomed the multinational chain’s investment into the town but raised concerns over the impact it would have on childhood obesity in the area.
He said: “McDonald’s have issues with health and childhood obesity levels.
“I would say they need to work with the council and help agencies to come up with something innovative for a change rather than the normal Big Mac and fries.”
Prior to the approval of the plans, the nearest McDonald’s for people who live in Barrowford, Nelson and Brierfield was Colne’s North Valley retail park store.
Demolition crews have visited the site of the 314-space Pendle Rise shopping centre car park, next to Nelson Police Station, in Broadway, as preparations are now under way for knocking it down.
Permission to demolish the ‘eyesore’ was granted by Pendle Council in 2016, but plans to build on the site were only submitted before Christmas.
When the new store opens, it will become the 14th McDonald’s to open in East Lancashire with others located in Blackburn, Burnley, Clitheroe, Rising Bridge, Rawtenstall Accrington and Colne.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel