The proposed McDonald’s Drive-Thru under the iconic White Cliffs of Dover makes a mockery of national efforts to reduce obesity in an area plagued by the health crisis and will permanently scar one of the UK's most cherished landscapes. Further, a 24hr drive-thru will create traffic-mayhem at the gates of the busiest international port in Europe.

Tackling obesity is one of the greatest challenges facing the UK, costing the NHS around £6.5 billion a year and is the second biggest preventable cause of cancer. Dover District has higher than average obesity levels with 69.4% of adults and 17.8% of Year 6 children classified as obese.

The National Planning Policy Framework, which came into force one month before Dover District Council (DDC) voted for McDonald’s, places responsibility on local planning authorities to refuse applications for fast food outlets within walking distance of schools. The proposed McDonald’s is just over 200 meters from one of our primary schools. We are calling for this disastrous decision to be overturned as a matter of national health concern. We note the recent rejection of a comparable McDonald’s proposal in October 2024 by City of York Council. 

By allowing the proposal DDC has also voted against its own Local Plan which earmarks the site as an ‘Opportunity Area’ to be used for a ‘mixed-use’ development, not a single-use fast food drive-thru. This site could be repurposed for much needed housing, in line with the Government’s promise to build 1.5 million homes on brownfield sites.

DDC’s claim that it would benefit the local economy is unfounded as no study on the impact to existing Dover businesses was conducted.

Immediate action is crucial to prevent irreversible damage to a globally recognised Heritage Site and to ensure that future developments in this prime location serve the interests of the community and the environment. Over 300 objections have already been raised, including from Historic England, National Highways, English Heritage, Historic Buildings and Places, and Dover Town Council. 

The window to protect Dover’s health, history, environment, local businesses and community well-being is rapidly closing. Join us in saying NO to this ill-conceived proposal and urging local authorities to prioritise sustainable and heritage-sensitive alternatives.

We call on Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Angela Rayner, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting, and Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson to reverse Dover District Council’s decision.

Sign now to safeguard Dover’s legacy for generations to come!

For further information please contact nomcdonaldsdover@proton.me