One woman has put up a banner saying she is ‘not loving’ a new McDonald’s (Image: Lee Mclean / SWNS)
A furious mother has taken a stand against a new McDonald’s by displaying a banner stating that she’s ‘not loving’ it. Rachel Laidler, 55, accused the fast-food chain’s builders of causing significant damage to her boundary wall, allegedly digging a 4.5m (15ft) gaping trench for a ‘water treatment tank’ right next to it.
This hole, positioned a mere ‘1.9m (6ft)’ from her bedroom, has soured a once amicable relationship with the construction workers, according to Rachel and her partner Peter, 70. It all fell apart when the ditch allegedly caused her concrete retaining wall to slip and crack.
In protest, Rachel hoisted her message last Wednesday, on the McDonald’s opening day: ‘We’re not loving it – see the unrepaired damage they left behind their fence’. Looking back, the mum-of-four explained: “Relationships were fine. My husband went around and helped them with one or two bits and pieces as he started to feel a bit better.
“And we weren’t looking over the fence the whole time because we’ve got our own lives to get on with.Then they came around and said, ‘We’re going to be digging a hole really quite close to your fence… It might be good if the dogs don’t go round there’.
“And then we couldn’t believe it – it was literally the other side, and this hole just got deeper and deeper. It’s 1.9m from our bedroom wall and it’s over 4.5m deep.”
Rachel began a series of communications with Bradford Council regarding the water treatment tank, which is currently undergoing a retrospective planning application. She alleged that the council had ‘washed their hands’ of the issue.
“There was nobody to talk to us, environmental health never came out, nobody even acknowledged our emails, many of which were sent,” she went on. “The only email we ever got back was, ‘It’s been signed off, it’s nothing to do with us any more.'”
She later added: “Labour is planning to ease up planning restrictions, so it’s something that might become more of a problem. We’ve paid our council tax year in, year out for decades, and we are not being listened to or represented in any way.
“I wonder if it’s going on all over the country.”
The 55-year-old alleged that contractors had damaged her fence (Image: Lee Mclean / SWNS)
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A spokesperson from the US chain has since said it is ‘satisfied the correct procedures were followed’ – adding that it had ‘committed’ to repairing the fence. They stated: “As part of building our new McDonald’s Restaurant in Ilkley, we installed a water treatment tank, following a review of the local drainage infrastructure.
“Once on site, it became clear that the water treatment tank could not be placed in the exact spot originally planned. However, the main outlet pipe where the treated water leaves the site remains in the same location.
“Relevant experts have assured us that the relocated tank does not impact neighbours or the surrounding area in any way, and we are working with the planning authority to make sure they are satisfied the correct procedures have been followed, and will follow any further steps they ask us to take.
“We have made a commitment to repair the damaged fence and this week we contacted the neighbour to discuss next steps.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Bradford Council added: “The council is aware of this issue and is in discussions with the owners’ representatives. We have been advised that a retrospective Planning Application is being prepared and once received the council will fully consider it, which will include the usual publicity to give residents a chance to make their comments.”