Help Cradley Heath challenge the approval of a McDonald's drive-thru!
Help Cradley Heath challenge the approval of a McDonald's drive-thru!
Latest: Nov. 8, 2026
First step in Judicial Review process taken!
Our solicitor, Leigh Day, instructed a barrister who identified numerous grounds for challenging SMBCs decision by way of judicial review (JR) – the legal process which allows judges to examine the d…
Read moreMy name is Chloe, a resident of Cradley Heath. I am one of many who will be impacted by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council’s (SMBC) decision to approve the construction of a McDonald’s fast-food drive-thru in our neighbourhood.
Approval was given despite the site being directly next to homes. Despite the land being ear-marked for housing, exacerbating the chronic shortage in our area. Despite the site being near where children and young people live, play and study, contrary to national policy aimed at mitigating the obesity epidemic. Despite no substantive evidence of economic benefit being presented. Despite over 750 citizens objecting to it.
Does this sound familiar?
SMBC has a duty to safeguard land to meet the needs of the community it serves now and for the future, and I believe meaningful consideration should have been given to all those who raised their voice in objection.
I refuse to accept this decision quietly. Members of our community have come together to hold to SMBC to account. We’ve already received initial legal advice and with your help, £4,800 will support the next critical step; submission of pre-action protocol letter to SMBC. Our objective is to void the approval.
I know Cradley Heath isn’t the first community to have been let down like this, but we want to be the last. And we want to make a noise about it on behalf of all communities.
Contribute to our Cradley Heath Against McDonalds Proliferation cause. Be a CHAMP too.
My personal thanks, and on behalf of CHAMP and the objectors.
Chloe Pearson
Nov. 8, 2026
First step in Judicial Review process taken!
Our solicitor, Leigh Day, instructed a barrister who identified numerous grounds for challenging SMBCs decision by way of judicial review (JR) – the legal process which allows judges to examine the decisions of public bodies and consider whether they have acted lawfully, rationally, and fairly.
On 27 October, CHAMP took the first step in the JR procedure by submitting a pre-action protocol (PAP) letter to SMBC. This laid out the factual and legal basis of our claim and gave SMBC an opportunity to respond. We have now had a response and will be reviewing our next steps with legal counsel on Monday 09 November.
Not only that, our PAP letter also forced McDonalds and their planning consultant (Lichfields) to seek legal advice - we are becoming a lawful and costly thorn in their side! They may have deep pockets but we have heart.
Please help us keep up the momentum by sharing our fight far and wide - for our community and all those others who have had to bear the impacts of poor decisions!
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