Campaigners celebrating after Leeds fast food restaurant plans rejected

CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating winning the latest battle in their five-year fight against plans for a fast food restaurant in Leeds.
Campaigners fighting plans for a new McDonald's are pictured outside the White Bear Inn at Tingley in September 2011.Campaigners fighting plans for a new McDonald's are pictured outside the White Bear Inn at Tingley in September 2011.
Campaigners fighting plans for a new McDonald's are pictured outside the White Bear Inn at Tingley in September 2011.

Councillors on Leeds City Council’s south west plans panel yesterday rejected a fifth planning application to demolish the former White Bear pub and build a McDonald’s restaurant at the Dewsbury Road site.

The latest application was submitted to Leeds City Council by planning consultant Planware in October.

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Developers are seeking to demolish the existing dilapidated former pub building and build a two-storey fast food restaurant.

Council officers had recommended the plans for approval, but councillors voted to refuse the plans.

More than 1,000 objections had been lodged against the latest plans.

Leeds City Council councillor Tom Leadley (Morley Borough Independent), said It was the first time proposals for a McDonald’s at the Tingley site had been considered at a plans panel meeting .

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Coun Leadley said all four previous planning applications had been refused by council officers using delegated powers.

Morley Town Council councillor Wyn Kidger (Morley Borough Independent), said: “We are absolutely ecstatic. What we would like to see is maybe some affordable housing or a health centre on the site.”

A public inquiry will be held in March next year when the fourth refused application to build a McDonald’s on the site will be under discussion.

Coun Leadley said: “We are very pleased it has been refused. Now we will be preparing for the public inquiry.”