Controversial plans for a new McDonald's drive-thru have sparked almost 150 objections - as residents fear it will spoil a view of Dover Castle.

The fast-food giant wants to build a new 24-hour restaurant on the vacant Dover Leisure Centre site close to the port.

But there are concerns the 118-seater development - set for the corner of A20 Townwall Street and Woolcomber Street - could diminish a view of the 12th century castle that sits high on the clifftop above the plot.

Scores of people have objected to the scheme on Dover District Council's planning portal, with some fearing the restaurant could leave a bad impression on tourists using the A20.

Part of the Norman-built castle can be seen from the main road, although the view is partially blocked by buildings on Castle Hill Road behind the site.

This week, a group called Friends of Castle Conservation Area Dover launched a campaign against the proposal.

It fears the restaurant "will not be in keeping" with the Dover Castle conservation area - which does not include the McDonald’s plot.

Group member Louis Melville says the scheme is "ill-advised madness that is so frustrating to local residents".

“It's just the most ill-considered planning application I think I've ever seen," he said.

“For tourists coming in and out of the country, the first thing they will see underneath one of the most important castles in the world and the white cliffs is a McDonald's drive-thru.

“It just bemuses me that they have the affront to think they can just plonk something in such a sensitive area.”

Resident David Allen agrees, fearing the single-storey scheme will "detract from the views of the castle".

"It will have a significant impact on the local environment both next to and in the conservation area itself," he said.

"Other listed buildings in this area are also likely to be highly impacted.

"[McDonald's needs to] find another site in Dover where traffic is more controlled and will have less impact on both the environment and local residents."

Mr Melville, who lives 20 metres from the site, has also raised concerns over the potential impact on the road network.

“As anybody that lives in Dover knows, when traffic congestion happens at the ports, the whole of Townwall Street becomes a standing car park and sometimes for 24 hours a day," he said.

“So, to think of traffic pulling in, pulling out and interrupting that traffic flow is absolutely insane.”

National Highways has raised concerns over the scheme, recommending that a decision is not made until July 22.

It says the council can refuse the application if it wishes before that date.

An officer for the traffic authority said: “It is currently not possible to determine whether the application would have an unacceptable impact on the safety, reliability or operational efficiency of the road network.

“We will be concerned with proposals that have the potential to impact on the safe and efficient operation of our routes, in this case, particularly within the vicinity of the A20.”

It is requesting the delay to allow McDonald's to provide more information on how traffic will be managed.

Resident Adeline Reidy says the site is in a “sacred” area of the town as it sits next to the ruined St James' Church.

“The nearby Castle Street is also very important, maybe not so much to people now but certainly in the past,” she said.

McDonald’s previously had a restaurant in Biggin Street in Dover town centre, but it shut down in November 2017 and is currently empty.

At the time, the company said the decision to close “was not taken lightly” and 45 staff members were offered posts at other locations.

The closure of the restaurant came almost exactly on the 30th anniversary of its opening in autumn 1987.

The next nearest McDonald’s is currently on the A2 in Whitfield, four miles away.

Despite the concerns shared on the planning portal, some residents are thrilled another restaurant could be coming to the district.

Andrew Gasking said: “Given the horrific traffic at the existing site in Whitfield, this will ease traffic there and surely have a minor impact on the area in town.

“If anything, it will increase footfall to St James Retail Park. It also looks infinitely better than the wasteland it is now.

“As an electric car user, the extra bays will also be a huge asset to a town which has a lack of those.”

Michael Cox agreed, adding: “It’s an excellent new opportunity coming to Dover creating loads of new jobs.

“It will use a piece of land that is just standing empty.”

If approved, the project will include 55 spaces - including 10 for electric car charging - and will create 120 jobs.

In planning documents submitted to the council, bosses say the move “represents a multimillion-pound investment by a national operator in Dover”.

“We want to meet customer demand and introduce additional choices in the market,” states Planware Ltd on behalf of McDonald’s.

“The site represents an appropriate location for a drive-thru, which will be well placed to offer refreshments to passing customers and those in the surrounding area.”

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

In a statement, a McDonald’s spokeswoman added: “We are excited about the opportunity to open a new restaurant in Dover and look forward to continuing our discussions with the council and local residents to address any concerns.”

Dover Leisure Centre had stood on the site for four decades before it was torn down in 2020.

It was quickly replaced by a new £26 million facility in Whitfield.

A decision on the application will be made by planning officers at DDC.