Heacham couple fear proposed McDonald's would damage the character of the village they love
I meet Sandra and Michael at their home in Heacham, from their driveway you can see the proposed McDonald's site.
The couple, who're active members of the community, tell me they were 'horrified' when they heard that the global fast-food chain could be built opposite the iconic Norfolk Lavender on the A149.
Sandra and Michael, the proposed site is in the background (at the end of the road to the left)
It would be open 24 hours, 7 days a week, and they're worried it will change the character of a place they fell in love with as children.
"They're generic ugly buildings," Sandra says, "And opposite that beautiful Mill. What worries us is the amount of rubbish that they will create, and the traffic."
Proposed site, image McDonald's
The pair have been residents for more than a decade, "We've been coming here all our lives," Michael tells me, "What we love about it is its caring community. We always wanted to retire here.
"If McDonald's is built it's going to cause chaos basically, that junction's busy already. On a bank holiday the traffic can be queueing all the way to Snettisham.
"In the summer, when there're a lot of people coming from the caravan sites they'll be queuing all down our road. Those going to the traffic lights will overtake - and it's an accident waiting to happen. And our road is going to be like rubbish alley."
Sandra says she's not opposed to the chain, but 'it's just not in the right place'.
The proposed site, with the Lavender Fields in the background
Until Tuesday 9th June, McDonald's has launched a public consultation. It promises the build will create new jobs, support local services and have a minimum of three daily litter picks.
"This location is well placed to provide local residents, visitors and passing traffic with an additional food choice in Heacham," it says, adding, "Additional customer traffic generation is unlikely to have any material impact on the wider road network according to the findings of the transport assessment."
The couple aren't convinced.
Proposed benefits, image McDonald's
There may be some support out there. Jason Greene, recently posted on social media 'Say Yes to Heacham McDonald's' - which some people responded positively to.
One comment says, 'The proposed site is just an overspill and its not exactly a picturesque part of Heacham', another, 'I don't think that it will affect the character of the village'.
I've been in touch with Jason and others to ask why they're in favour, but am yet to hear back.
Jason's post
After reviewing feedback, McDonald's will decide whether to officially apply for planning permission, the council planning committee will make the final decision.
"We are concerned that it's a major business that will just get its own way," Sandra says, "But once it's established there's nothing you can do about it, there's no point regretting that you didn't put in more effort to try and get it refused."
And Sandra and Michael say they will make every effort to stop the proposals, to, in their words, 'protect the character of the place we love'.
McDonald's public consultation end on June 9th- here's the link: