Decision day for Rutland McDonald's restaurant

Councillors will today decide whether to allow the construction of Rutland's first ever McDonald's outlet.

The fast-food chain want to build a drive-through restaurant in Oakham, on land off Lands End Way.

The plans have attracted criticism from some locals, who argue it could damage the environment.

According to council documents, 40 people raised concerns about the impact of litter during the consultation period.

In support of the restaurant, 12 people agreed that it would create youth employment opportunities.

The county is the only one in England not to have a McDonald's, and the chain has thanked residents for their engagement with the proposal.

In a statement to the i newspaper, it said: "The public consultation proved to be highly constructive and we'd like to thank the Oakham Community for taking the time to attend.

"We will be reviewing all the feedback we received before making a decision on the appropriate next steps.

"Nearly 400 local residents attended the consultation, which provided an opportunity to ask questions about the restaurant and get a better feel for how this would look."

The proposal has been recommended for approval by Rutland Council officers, but the final decision will be taken at Tuesday evening's planning committee.