BURGER wars could be set to break out after McDonalds announced plans for a drive-through restaurant just yards from a recently opened Burger King.

McDonalds says its scheme could create 65 jobs at a 0.73-hectare grassland site off Ross-on-Wye’s Over Ross roundabout, beside the A40/A449 junction and next to the town’s major new residential development.

And it will be going head-to-head with Burger King just a hundred yards along the A449, which only opened at the Ross Spur service station last summer.

But with KFC, Starbucks, Subway and Greggs also already operating on the same A40 stretch of road, some people have already raised objections to the global fast foot giant also opening in the town, on traffic, litter and healthy eating grounds.

An application has been lodged with Herefordshire Council planners for the “erection of a freestanding restaurant with drive-thru facility, car parking, landscaping and associated works, including Customer Order Displays, Goal Post Height restrictor, play frame and pumping station.”

If approved, the restaurant will seat 136 while the site will include spaces for 48 cars, including five disability spaces, 20 bikes and four motorbikes.

The business says it would like to open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with plan drawings showing access off the new A40 roundabout.

One person concerned about the traffic impact posted on the Ross-on-Wye Facebook public noticeboard page: “Imagine the gridlock on a bank holiday Friday afternoon.”

Another added: “There’s enough KFC, Subway and Greggs wrappers thrown from vehicles littering our town, don’t want McDonalds causing more rubbish to be lying around.”

“Don’t allow it to happen. We have litter from both BK and KFC thrown out all the way to Upton Bishop and beyond. More trash. Take it home,” said one man.

And another person posted: “Please no more cheap unhealthy food. We are not America! Monmouth managed to avoid it because it was not in the interest of the town.”

But some supported the bid, one saying: “KFC and Burger King are right there as well? Why is everyone so negative about everything!? BRING ON THE MACCIES!”

And a report on behalf of McDonalds claims: “There are few restaurants in the country who can claim to have made so many positive changes to support healthier lifestyles.

“McDonald’s believe that the lessons they have learned in making these changes can be used to support a wider drive to reduce obesity.

“McDonald’s customers are increasingly health conscious and careful about what they eat.

“Therefore, McDonald’s goal is to help them understand what they are consuming and to assure them that the ingredients have been sourced responsibly.

“When it comes to their food, they believe their role is to make it easier for customers to balance health, taste and value.

“That is why McDonald’s have built their strategy on three core principles: choice, information and improving the nutritional profile of existing products.”

A spokesperson for McDonalds, which already operates some 1,280 outlets across the UK, said: “We can confirm that we have submitted an application for a new drive-thru restaurant in Ross-on-Wye.

“We are excited to be progressing with this opportunity and believe a new McDonald’s restaurant would bring significant investment to the local community, as well as create at least 65 new jobs.”

The firm has also submitted separate plans for signage.