Plans for McDonalds near new Herts school ‘concerning’

A head teacher says he is “gravely concerned” about plans to build a fast food outlet close to the site of a new school.

Bishop’s Stortford High School is due to move to a new campus on the St James’ Park development in time for the start of term in September.

The developer, Countryside, has applied to include a McDonald’s restaurant as part of a local centre, which is taking shape on the southern edge of the Hertfordshire town.

In a letter to parents, Dale Reeve said the location of the restaurant “could have catastrophic implications for the health and well-being of our students”.

He urged parents to attend a consultation event at St James’ Church in Thorley on 12 June.

Planning permission for the development was granted in 2019, with work on the local centre of shops and services set to begin in 2025.

A public consultation on the plans describes the McDonalds proposal as “designed to form an integral part of the wider centre, linking the local centre main parade to the employment/industrial uses adjacent”.

The fast food chain declined to comment.

A spokesperson for Countryside said the restaurant and other shops in the precinct would “benefit those already living at St James’ Park, other local residents, and provide local jobs.”

They added: “The St James’ Park neighbourhood provides important new homes for the local community, as well as a mixed-use local centre which will provide shops, restaurant, a gym, a nursery and community facilities.

“The proposed McDonald’s is one part of these proposals.”

A new high school building is due to open in time for the new term in September.

Stephen Taylor, governor of the school, said there were also concerns about safety id a drive-through facility is build so close to the gates.

“It’s not going to serve a community of new housing… it’s going to attract a large number of people to drive to that location.

“We’ve got a lot of kids who travel to school by foot or by bike or use public transport, so there’s a transport and a safety threat there as well,” he said.