THE STRENGTH of feeling against McDonalds opening in Monmouth was so strong that a public meeting had to be split into two.

Almost 500 people squeezed into the two community rooms at the town's Shire Hall last week to voice their feelings against a fast food restaurant, a drive-through coffee shop, a public house and a retail unit being built on land adjacent to Dixton roundabout by McDonald's, which uses the slogan: "We're lovin' it."

David Cummings, chairman of Monmouth and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce said: "This scheme more resembles that of a small motorway service station for vehicles using the A40 than for the benefit of the town's people.

"Most of these visitors will not then venture into town to benefit local traders."

Graham Thomas, chairman of Monmouth Civic Society said: "This town came together to fight Tesco's proposals for a supermarket on this site in the late 1990s and I am sure we can do it again in opposing the might of McDonalds."

Town councillor Brian Ramsay said: "The proposed site is at risk of flooding, especially in conditions like we are experiencing and with 50,000 daily vehicle movements on the A40 there is a high pollution problem with cars and lorries stopping at both the traffic lights and at the roundabout."

Monmouthshire County Councillor Bob Hayward said: "If a McDonalds was located in the high street, it would not be the end of the world. But I do understand that other people do not want this fast food chain in the town at all."

From the audience Sue Hughes said: "It's the youngsters using Facebook and social media who seem to be in favour of this fast food restaurant coming to town and giving a skewed opinion to the outside world that the town would welcome McDonalds, when it clearly isn't by the numbers here tonight."

County Councillor Sue White said: "Having a McDonalds and these other businesses at the Dixton roundabout will create traffic chaos on what is already a problematic area of Monmouth.

Elaine Philips, chair of the Gateway to Wales pressure group said: "We support the on-going development of Monmouth and we have no objection to the McDonalds coming to Monmouth, but we feel that the wrong site has been chosen."