Changes have been made to the planning application for the proposed McDonald's in Ammanford.

The layout of the roof will be altered as part of a discharge of conditions.

McDonald's is seeking permission for a restaurant with drive-through, parking facilities, 76-seat dining area, restrooms and a play frame next to Tesco's petrol filling station.

The application to amend the roof layout of the building was made last week and will be considered by planners in due course.

The original plans went before Carmarthenshire County Council's planning committee in April for consideration by councillors, but officers have recommended that planning permission is granted. 

No objections were offered by Head of Transport & Highways, Network Rail, Head of Public Protection, Natural Resources Wales, and Welsh Water.

However, there were other authorities who objected the proposal like Coal Authority, Ammanford Town Council and local councillors D E Harries and C Evans.

The following concerns were listed by Ammanford Council:

  • Loss of privacy for residents
  • Traffic congestion, pollution, and safety
  • Negative reputation of fast-food outlets for litter and anti-social behaviour
  • Noise and disturbance to surrounding area

Furthermore, before approval was granted, the council asked for adjustments such as:

  • Closing time of midnight instead of 24-hour operation
  • Daily litter patrols over 300m area with more bins and regular emptying
  • Installation of 2.5m high solid fence along railway boundary to reduce noise
  • Car registration numbers on packaging for litter control

Councillors Harries and Evans echo the councils concerns while also mentioning the conflict with local development plan policies and the removal of free parking spaces creating a more crowded area.

Former MP Jonathan Edwards, who stood down at last month's general election, objected to the proposal, citing the negative impact on smaller businesses, the impact on child obesity, air quality due to increased traffic congestion and lack of support from the community.

Following the initial proposal, there were over 316 unique public representations, with 206 responses objecting to the proposal and 99 responses supporting it.

Most public objections focused on the littering and environmental impact of a new McDonald's - the second largest mentioned traffic congestion and access issues.

However, supporters of the project, have mentioned the increase in job opportunities and potential footfall as positives of the development.

A McDonalds spokesperson added: “We are excited about the opportunity to open a new restaurant in Ammanford.

“We will go into the committee meeting this week with a recommendation for approval and are committed to working together with the council and local residents to address any concerns.”