By SHAUN MILNE
BURGER giants McDonald’s have come under fire over plans to build a green powered 20 metre high wind turbine – at a drive-through restaurant.
The American firm sparked a bun fight after the proposals for their outlet at South Queensferry were recommended for approval by planners.
It will become only second of its stores in the UK to be powered by wind, the first in Scotland, if it is rubber stamped on Wednesday.
But angry residents have hit out.
Mike Warren who lives in nearby Stoneyflats Park said: “It seems wholly incompatible to use a non-environmentally friendly facility such as a drive-through restaurant as a testing ground for an oversized, over engineered and inappropriate solution.”
Queensferry and District Community Council vice chair Keith Giblett agreed.
He said: “McDonald’s would do better for the environment by collecting up its rubbish which travels far and wide.”
Reading based Semplice Energy which is working with the fast food chain on the project , however, insisted it was a good move.
Senior energy consultant Andrew Luke said: “It is very good news a company like McDonald’s is keen.
Proposal
“They and Tesco are among the first movers on this. Reducing energy is on everybody’s minds right now.”
John Bury, head of planning at City of Edinburgh Council, said in a report that the proposal was of a type that was to be encouraged on the grounds of green energy targets, and that it would not adversely affect the local area.
Fears that such a large structure could affect the nearby airport operations had also been addressed, he said, recommending the plan for approval.
He said: “The proposal would provide renewable energy in a form that is encouraged by the local plan.”
