Proposals for a McDonald’s drive-thru just yards from one of Britain’s top state schools have been branded “outrageous and completely irresponsible” amid the child obesity epidemic.
The fast food giant is currently planning a new restaurant in St James’s Park, in the leafy town of Bishop’s Stortford, just 230 meters from the site of The Bishop’s Stortford High School.
The proposal comes as the latest analysis of childhood obesity shows that England is expected to have the highest prevalence of obesity in Europe by 2030, with more than 35 percent of adults living with obesity. While according to the Archives of Disease in Childhood, more than a third of children are currently overweight or obese.
The development is just 20 miles from the home of Jamie Oliver, a former school obesity campaigner who is an active member of the local community.
While the project is still in the planning stages, teachers at The Bishop’s Stortford High School have said The independent that the chain could have a “significant impact” on the health and well-being of the 1,300 students.
Headteacher Dale Reeve said the school will move to a new location this autumn and warned that more than 1,000 pupils could be just 230 meters away from the Golden Arches should the drive-thru go ahead.
“We’ll have 1,300 students and I expect a lot of them will congregate at McDonald’s and obviously they’ll be unsupervised,” he said.
“There are times during the school day when they congregate in large numbers on our playground, but then they are under our supervision and behave impeccably.
“We have a great reputation, but we believe this project will have significant impacts.”
Although there are plans to involve other retailers, including Central Co-operative and PureGym, as part of the wider development, these have not angered locals who fear the impact of the cheap fast food so close to young students.
Headteacher Reeve added: “I am deeply concerned that locating a fast food restaurant so close to our school could have catastrophic consequences for the health and wellbeing of our pupils, and I am sure many parents and carers will agree are.
“[The school] where we are now, there is no such thing. There will be several problems. Childhood obesity is an ongoing problem and McDonald’s is naturally open all day, whether it is 24 hours a day or from early morning to late at night.
Child health campaigners, including Oliver, this week welcomed news from Health Secretary Wes Streeting that Labor would ban the sale of high caffeine energy drinks to under-16s. But despite recommendations from numerous studies, there are no laws banning fast food restaurants from opening near schools.
“Childhood obesity is a major concern,” said Dale Reeve, the school’s principal, whose school will move to the new development next year.
A two-week public consultation is currently being held by the site’s developer, Countryside, until June 17 on plans to build a McDonald’s.
Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver hails from Bishop’s Stortford and is on a famous mission to make the country’s school meals healthier.
He particularly criticized McDonald’s, describing the fast food giant’s beef as “unfit for human consumption.”
The developer Countryside is applying for planning permission for shops, restaurants, cafes and other services.
A McDonald’s spokesperson said: “We believe community feedback is an essential part of an effective planning process and welcome the thoughts and opinions of local residents in Bishop’s Stortford.”
The BBC reports that if the proposed site and associated dining options are approved, construction will begin next year.
The independent has contacted McDonald’s and Countryside for further comment.