Controversial plans for a new McDonald’s drive-thru have been approved - despite fears the fast-food chain "will look like it's sponsoring England".

Opponents say the 24-hour restaurant will be one of the first things tourists see when arriving in the country via the Port of Dover.

Councillors on Dover District Council’s (DDC) planning committee waved through the scheme last night despite more than 300 objections.

The restaurant will be built on the corner of A20 Townwall Street and Woolcomber Street, next to the ruins of St James’ Church, and create 120 jobs, according to the fast-food chain’s bosses.

The town has been without a branch of McDonald’s since 2017, with the closest outlets currently in Whitfield and Folkestone and another in Sandwich.

But opponent Olivia Davies raised concerns over the project, describing the scale of objections as “unprecedented”.

After the meeting, she added: “I don’t think this decision serves the local people in Dover, and for anyone coming from the port, it will be like welcome to England, sponsored by McDonald’s.”

Fellow opponent Ash Payne agreed, fearing the plan will not help businesses already in the town.

“We don’t want Dover to be a transit destination - we want people to stop and stay in the town,” he said.

During the meeting, Cllr Lynne Wright (Lab) also raised concerns about the proximity of the site to St Mary’s Primary School and neighbouring St James’ Retail and Leisure Park, which already features Burger King, German Doner Kebab and Papa Johns.

The plot, which is on the edge of the Dover Castle conservation area, was previously home to Dover Leisure Centre before it was demolished in 2020.

Cllr Wright said: “I don’t understand why we can say it’s alright to have a fast-food outlet within 200 metres of a primary school because there are already several nearby.

“If I wanted to put an extension onto my house, I couldn’t say that next door has an extension, so I should be allowed one.

“Health statistics for Dover district are poor. Our obesity rates in children are poor compared to the national average.”

KCC Highways raised no objections to the plans despite fears the site’s entrance, on the A20, the main route to the Port of Dover, could cause a serious accident.

Cllr Roger Knight (Con) said he saw no reason to refuse the application, stating fast-food outlets were a “part of modern life”.

He said: “I don’t see the local business effect. There was a McDonald’s in Dover previously, and there have been no other applications for this site.

“I don't see the heritage concerns. We used to have an eyesore of a building on this site, but this design is very good, albeit a drive-thru.”

Speaking on behalf of applicants McDonald’s, Ben Fox, from Planware, said: “We believe this application delivers significant benefits to Dover, supporting the local economy and bringing a brownfield site back into active use adjacent to the town centre to ensure the town’s vitality and contribute to community development.

“The site is in a prime location to serve the residents of Dover, alleviate pressure on our over-trading Whitfield restaurant, and improve the selection of food and drink available within the town.”

Two motions were raised regarding the application, with one seeking to refuse it based on concerns over heritage and improvements to healthy living.

However, the scheme was approved with five votes for, two against, and two abstentions.

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The project will include 55 spaces - including 10 for electric car charging - and will create 120 jobs, the company says.

McDonald’s used to have a town centre restaurant in Biggin Street, but it shut down in November 2017 and is currently empty.

A spokesperson for the fast-food chain said: “We are excited about the opportunity to open a restaurant in Dover and are delighted our planning application was approved by the local council.

“The restaurant will bring significant investment to the local area and deliver up to 120 full and part-time jobs.”