Mixed reaction to plans for Burger King drive-thru yards from McDonald's

Work has started on a new Burger King drive-thru restaurant, just yards from the existing McDonald’s outlet on Newcastle Road, South Shields.

But the burger bar double act could be the last as council bosses face up to an obesity “timebomb” following shock new figures which show that over a third of youngsters in the borough finish their primary school years classed either as overweight or obese.

Council chiefs are revising the Local Plan to take into account any new applications from hot food takeaways in an attempt to promote a more healthy borough

However, Gazette readers have been taking to our website and Facebook accounts to express their views.

Mark Burns said: “It will break McDonald’s strangle hold in the area and give some much-needed competition and employment. There are healthy options in these places.”

Claire MamaBear Pearson wrote: “People don’t have to eat there!

“People can make a choice to eat where they want, don’t blame fast food for obesity, it’s the person who chooses their lifestyle that’s the problem!”

Chelseadave added: “It’s the fact that kids don’t play sports anymore and would rather play on their computers.

“That’s how we have a high obesity rate.

“You can’t blame these type of restaurants for this, you blame the parents – so many people are just lazy these days.”

Coun Lee Hughes, a Putting People First Representative for the Bede ward in South Shields, is worried that the new venture will cause traffic problems and see motorists backed up along Newcastle Road.

Website user Rmrcdo agreed, he added: “Time to say ‘enough is enough’.

“I agree with Coun Hughes, traffic congestion is already bad.”

However, Petersafc is delighted by the news.

He typed: “Champion, saves driving to Whitemare Pool roundabout for my Chicken Royale.”