McDonald's Wildridings trees being chopped down in Bracknell

Restaurant bosses gained planning permission to install a new drive-thru booth and add three new extensions to the eatery in December 2018.

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Further work involving removing eight trees was completed recently — and one resident was worried this could mean “another extension” to the site.

Terry Davies told the News: "The trees are being felled around the McDonald’s drive-thru at Wildridings, Mill Pond, creating a further blemish on our street in Arncliffe.

“Is this a prelude to another extension bid?”

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The News contacted Bracknell Forest Council (BFC) to ask why the trees — which have special protections meaning developers cannot chop them down without getting permission first — were being chopped down.

The original planning application for the extensions did not propose any would be removed and BFC explained this work is part of a new application which means felled trees will be replanted.

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According to a tree expert’s survey, some of the trees identified for felling have suffered from “varying degrees of storm damage and natural branch failure”, which could lead to “future [branch] failures” and the potential for a “serious incident.”

Sixteen trees at the site were earmarked for work, with eight identified for chopping down and re-planting.

The trees chopped-down were a mixture of willow, sycamore and birch trees.

McDonald’s bosses must plant a “new healthy, well-formed tree” by Friday, February 28.