An independent business owner has expressed her concerns after plans were announced to open a Mcdonald's just metres away from her van.
Frances Truelove, from Northallerton, owns Truly Plumptious with Frances, a sandwich van offering a range of hot food, salads, pies, sausage rolls and burgers.
However, the van is just metres away from a recently proposed planning application for a Mcdonald's on Thurston Road and Darlington Road in the market town.
Originally plans for two drive-throughs and a warehouse were submitted back in 2020 on the derelict three-acre site.
Plans have been submitted for the development, which says has the potential to create up to 100 full and part-time jobs - and help boost the local economy.
Plans detail how a new restaurant from the popular chain could be constructed on the site along with parking, outdoor seating and drive-through lanes.
Read more: McDonald's drive-thru set to open in Northallerton, North Yorkshire
But Ms Truelove says the development could be “potentially disastrous” for her independent business.
She said: “As a little business providing food directly to the businesses and industrial/building sites of town I fear the impact of a McDonald's.
“Whether it would have a short or long-term effect on my little business I’d soon find out.
“I pay a fee to the council to ensure I’m the only business allowed of my type in the areas I cover.”
She continued to stress that she is feeling the pressure “more and more as it is” due to the rise of cafes and delivery services like JustEat and NorthallertonEats.
She added: “I put in 60+ hours a week come rain or shine, to ensure my customers get the very best service day in and day out, which can be a struggle with a toddler at home.
“I just hope my hard work for 18 months building up the van's customer base hasn’t been wasted and that I don’t take a significant financial dip when the big boys come to town.”
Ms Truelove says she uses another independent business – The Terrace Café and Takeaway – to make her hot sandwiches each day.
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She said: “So if this affects my custom it also affects them, another small family-owned business in town.”
Many of her customers are loyal, Ms Truelove has said, adding that they weren’t happy about the potential Mcdonald's due to the litter and additional traffic.
However, younger people might “jump at the chance” of a Mcdonald's.
She added: “But I fear certain sites with younger workforce may very well jump at the chance to get McDonald's.
“There’s a chance that site will include additional food sites not just MDs, so additional pressure!
“We just have to wait and see what happens, and hope it doesn’t affect little businesses like me too much.”
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