Location is inappropriate

I sincerely hope that McDonald's does not get Council's approval to build a restaurant near the roundabout at Ocean Beach Rd and Wellington St.

Or is it already a "done deal" as Colleen Boyd intimates in her letter (Peninsula News, March 5)?

I agree that Maccas does represent pretty good value, has friendly staff and contributes to a number of good causes.

However, this location appears to be highly inappropriate.

Ocean Beach Rd is the main artery in and out of Umina.

It features the shopping centre, the caravan and camping parks of Umina and Patonga and the Mt Ettalong and Pearl Beach destinations.

It is very busy during holiday periods and during the times people are travelling to and from work.

We already have traffic congestion in these periods.

As a long time resident of Umina, along with many other concerned people, I was involved in putting a halt to the Hungry Jacks hamburger chain locating a business outlet in Umina.

This project was terminated largely due to the fact that it would have created an inaccessible road hazard.

This occurred about 15 to 20 years ago and the traffic has increased quite considerably since then.

I feel McDonalds, and any other food chain, should be encouraged to seek more suitable and less invasive areas to establish their businesses, not ones that will impact adversely on the travelling public.

I also believe that Gosford Council should get on with what should be one of their prime objectives, of trying to improve and maintain our very ordinary road system.

Letter, 15 Mar 2012 James Howell, Umina