The lure of wads of cash...............

[mk1]

overrides public opinion.

Never listen to what a Politician says he wants, follow the money instead.

A blast from the past.

January 2002.



http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/local/new-mcdonald-s-plan-for-marina-1-993412


A MAJOR fast food chain is in fresh talks to build a restaurant near a popular tourist attraction.

McDonald's has plans to build a drive-through restaurant only a few hundred yards away from an area where it had previously been refused planning permission.


Just three months ago a huge public outcry forced councillors to take a dramatic u-turn about selling the land to the American burger giant.


Hartlepool Borough Council had agreed to sell the land for a third town centre outlet to be built only yards away from the Historic Quay, one of Hartlepool's premier tourist attractions.


Critics argued that a fast food joint only yards away from a mock 17th Century sea port was out of character with the attraction and could harm the town's fledgling tourist industry.


Councillors then refused planning permission and the scheme was scrapped - but the plans could be back on as McDonald's has now approached the owner of an existing restaurant to see if it can develop there.


The new restaurant, if contract terms and planning permission go ahead, will be on the site currently occupied by Wild Bills.


The Wild West-themed restaurant has been under-performing for months and closed down at Christmas after owner Ray Wells failed to attract enough custom to justify keeping the business going.


But now the building, which was touted as an alternative location by the Hartlepool Mail during the MarinaGate scandal, could be brought back into use as Ray is in the final stages of negotiations with McDonald's.


He said: "We are quiet a way down the road now with McDonald's. We have almost reached contract terms and should be in a position to finalise the agreement soon."


The burger giant will not be buying out the site but leasing the building under a fixed term deal, the length of the lease has not been disclosed and a planned opening date has not yet been decided.


Ray said: "They have got some work to do. There is going to be some re-structuring of the building to accommodate the counter and the drive-through."


McDonald's original plans for a Marina-based outlet fell through when they tried to snap up a piece of land directly opposite the Historic Quay.


The fast food giant had agreed to buy a plot of land, currently occupied by a toilet block, in a deal agreed by just three councillors for just 400,000.


But after huge public outcry, councillors then denied planning permission for the development and a later meeting over turned the previous decision to agree to sell the land.


Ray added: "We have been involved in negotiations for several months. We had been considered as a back-up to their original plans and when they fell through they came back to us. They are committed to Hartlepool and would be there a long time."


The businessman is now hoping he can relocate to smaller premises in Hartlepool - but admitted he is also considering other sites outside of town.


He said: "We are still actively looking for an alternative site. We are looking for premises that are suitable for the number of clients we have.


"One of them is in Hartlepool and the other two are in Stockton and Middlesbrough. All of the staff will be given the chance to work at the new restaurant."


A spokesman for McDonald's would only say: "We are in discussions to use part of the building as a new McDonald's."

[The Great Dictator]

There was no u-turn by councillors because they hadn't actually made a decision at full council, the Mail and it's retarded staff got it wrong deliberately as usual..