Hoevenen (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Antwerpse Steenweg McDonald’s permit was denied due to traffic, safety, and nuisance concerns in Hoevenen. Mayor Herman Jongenelen and Alderman Bardyn emphasised protecting cyclists, children, and village character.
As GVA News reported, the city council has refused a permit for a new McDonald’s with a drive-thru and fast-charging station on Antwerpse Steenweg in Hoevenen, in the province of Antwerp, Belgium. The main reasons are worries about traffic and safety.
Officials mentioned that the road is already very busy during rush hours. Adding the restaurant would bring at least 86 more cars every hour. Half of these cars would be new visitors, not just people passing by.
This extra traffic could cause more jams and make it harder for drivers and locals to get around. Officials say the road is too full now and cannot handle more cars safely without causing bigger problems.
What are the risks of a McDonald’s drive-thru on Antwerpse Steenweg?
The council also raised concerns about safety for cyclists. The planned entrance for the McDonald’s drive-thru would cut across a busy 2-way cycle path used daily by schoolchildren and people going to work. Officials warned that more cars turning across this path could put cyclists in danger and lead to accidents.
People in the area also spoke about other worries, including more litter, noise, late-night disturbance, and a loss of the village’s character. After looking at all these issues, the council decided that the harm from the project would be greater than any benefits and ruled that this site is not the right place for it.
“Mobility is more than just cars. This project ignores cyclists and pedestrians,”
says Mayor Herman Jongenelen (Sterk2940).
Alderman Bardyn highlighted that a fast-food restaurant is not appropriate in an area where many children cycle to school daily. The council is also worried that a 24-hour drive-thru could bring nighttime problems such as noisy gatherings, vandalism, and other disturbances.
The municipality warned that the planned drive-thru would likely cause more litter in nearby residential streets. They mentioned that fast-food restaurants often create a lot of rubbish, especially disposable packaging, and officials fear this would affect the area’s cleanliness and quality of life.
The council also said the restaurant would not fit the small-scale, residential character of the neighbourhood. Alderman Jongenelen said the council is choosing livability, safety, and the protection of the village’s identity over uncontrolled development.
A similar case occurred in 2022 in the Flemish town of Ternat, where plans for a new fast-food restaurant with a drive-thru were denied by the municipal council. Officials cited heavy traffic on the proposed site’s main road, safety risks for cyclists and pedestrians, and fears of increased litter and noise.
