I WRITE regarding the plan for a McDonalds Drive Thru Restaurant in Crediton.

This proposal is objectionable for many reasons.

- A blot on the landscape: Ugly and brightly illuminated which will contribute to light pollution. The security lights on the Mole Avon building already contribute to this.

- Health and Wellbeing: It has been shown in many studies that the consumption of high fat, low grade salty junk food has detrimental effects on overall health. With an epidemic of obesity, diabetes and heart disease suffered by a large proportion of the UK population, a drive thru provision such as this will exacerbate an already dire health situation for many consumers. The fact that consumers will not need to even leave their cars will contribute to poorer health outcomes.

- Environmental: Increased traffic will impact on air quality, already poor in this area. Traffic congestion will further exacerbate this problem. People will be sitting in vehicles, engines running whilst queuing which will erode air quality further.

- Ecological: The proposal to build a drive thru fast food outlet which relies upon beef products is not sustainable in any way at all.

- Not in keeping: Crediton is a small market town that enjoys independent retail and food outlets providing variety and quality. It is one of the key identifying factors that make this town attractive to local residents and its many visitors.

Nick Unstead

New Buildings