THE fast-food giant McDonald’s is proposing to build a new restaurant on the outskirts of Abergavenny.

The American company has lodged plans with Monmouthshire council’s planning officers to open a drive-through restaurant in Llanfoist, next to the Heads of the Valleys Road.

McDonald’s Restaurant Limited wants to build on land known as the Westgate site, off Merthyr Road, creating more than 65 jobs for local people.

The site would include 37 parking spaces and a landscaped area for outside dining reached via a spine road. Whilst the application does not state proposed opening times it does give ideal opening hours of 24 hours per day and seven days a week.

Llanfoist resident and owner of Beacon Park Boats, Alasdair Kirkpatrick, 48, said: “Llanfoist is turning into a town or city similar to the edge of Newport or Cardiff. There is going to be a hotel and Costa Coffee on part of the site. A McDonald’s will be absolutely too much.”

One resident, who did not wish to be named called on McDonald’s to consult with the community: “It’s a huge concern that the restaurant is within walking distance of Llanfoist Fawr Primary School.”

McDonalds say there is not likely to be an issue of noise, given that it is next to the A465 and that special extraction and odour controlling equipment will be introduced as part of the scheme.

A McDonald’s Spokesperson said: “A new McDonald’s would bring investment to the area and provide at least 65 full and part-time jobs for the community. We are excited about the prospect of investing in the area.”

In 2001, hundreds of campaigners signed a petition against plans to build on a site alongside the Heads of the Valleys Road, on the edge of Abergavenny. They feared it would harm the town centre and called for it to be built in the centre. The proposal was rejected by planners.

A separate application by Whitbread PLC for a 61-bed Premier Inn and a Brewer’s Fayre on the same site was granted permission in January, whilst a decision on its bid to open a Costa Coffee within the same application was deferred for the design to be significantly amended.

The application by McDonald’s was submitted earlier this week and has yet to be considered.