Planning to be granted for McDonalds drive-thru with conditions in big Tipperary town
Planning has been granted for a McDonalds drive-thru
Tipperary County Council has approved plans for the construction of a single-storey McDonald's drive-thru restaurant in Thurles.
The approval includes 15 specific conditions. Notably, the restaurant will not operate around the clock; instead, its opening hours will be limited from 6am to 10pm.
The proposed location is in Clongour, situated beside the N62 and near the planned extension that will become the Thurles Inner Relief Road.
Among the requirements set by the Council are measures to control light pollution, including limitations on external lighting to minimize light spills beyond the site’s perimeter.
Additionally, all electrical cabling must be installed underground. Other stipulations involve guidelines for signage, surface water drainage, ventilation systems, fencing design, noise control, and protection of nearby trees along the River Walk during construction.
A total of 28 public submissions were received, voicing a variety of concerns.
These included worries about increased traffic in a primarily residential area, littering, environmental effects on the river walk, anti-social behavior, health implications such as obesity, and whether a drive-thru business aligns with the Thurles Local Area Plan, which emphasizes reduced reliance on cars.
The project carries a development levy of €10,533. Members of the public have the right to appeal the Council’s decision to An Bord Pleanála within four weeks.