No ‘drive-in’ plans for Aviemore site, say McDonald’s
Rumours that fast-food restaurant giants McDonald’s were now looking at a Grampian Road site in Aviemore for a possible drive-in outlet have been dismissed.
The company told the Strathy this week that they are not looking in the area - four months after they had said they were exploring opportunities in the ‘wider area’ than the site they had secured planning permission for on Santa Claus Drive.
Some local observers had understood that the company were close to a deal over the ready-cleared plot beside the Happy Haggis.
But that is not the case, a spokesperson for McDonald’s said this week.
“Thanks for getting in touch.
“There are no current plans in the areas you referenced.”
The areas we had referenced included the ‘wider area’ the company had spoken of in October, when they had confirmed the dropping of the approved - and expanded - plans for the former Superdrug store.
Controversial plans to open up a restaurant at the former Superdrug premises were first mooted some two years ago, with McDonald’s confirming they intended to add Aviemore to its 1,450 other British outlets.
The thought of the famous Golden Arches moving into the village divided opinion although most local residents appeared to be in favour on social media.
After months of inactivity at the former store the pull-out was confirmed but the company had added: “We are always on the lookout for suitable locations and whilst we are no longer progressing this specific site we are exploring a number of opportunities in the wider area.”
At the time, local Highland councillor Bill Lobban, who lives in Aviemore, said: "I think its unfortunate that a major international brand has decided not to invest in our community.
“Aviemore is a tremendous investment opportunity for businesses large and small so I'm sure the vacant space will soon be filled.
“Personally, I was looking forward to a Big Mac but there are a number of great alternative options available."
Cairngorms Business Partnership chief Craig Mills had said: "While it’s disappointing for some that McDonald's won’t be opening in Aviemore, there are a wonderful array of fantastic local eateries to explore.
Many observers had been surprised at the choice of site since the more usual approach by the burger giant has been to acquire a vacant plot on the fringes of a town and create a drive-in restaurant with easy car parking facilities.
And rumours had arisen that the site initially cleared for a block of flats on Grampian Road had shown some promise as a drive-in burger bar.
But that has now also been rebuffed by McDonald’s who were asked what their plans were not just for Aviemore but for an outlet ‘between Perth and Inverness’.
It’s anyone’s guess at this point what the company is planning for the Highlands, if anything.
