A DECISION on whether to controversially allow another McDonald's to open in the city looks set to be delayed again because of next month's general election.

Councillors were due to meet on December 12, the same day the city goes to the polls to elect its MP, with a plan to convert the former Harvester restaurant in Droitwich Road in Worcester top of the agenda.

Council bosses are still deciding whether the meeting, which would take place at the city's Guildhall, will go ahead.

If the meeting is cancelled it could mean a decision will not be made until January.

The decision was already pushed back from October when it was first set to go before councillors due to the overwhelming response to the plan.

Almost 400 people responded to the plan to build the new McDonald’s with the majority calling for it to be rejected.

Hundreds spoke out against the plan saying a new McDonald’s should not be built near a school and would attract more litter and anti-social behaviour.

Many also raised concerns about more traffic on an already busy roundabout and questioned why another McDonald’s was needed when there is already a restaurant a mile and a half away in Blackpole.

The consultation on the plan was due to end in July but was extended until October because of the huge response.

A petition against the new McDonald’s by Councillor James Stanley, who represents Claines ward where the proposed fast food restaurant would sit, attracted almost 1,670 signatures.

Cllr Stanley said the new McDonald’s would be “inappropriate” for the area as it would be too close to the new North Worcester Primary Academy and the youth centre and would cause too many traffic problems in an already congested part of the city.

Cllr Andy Stafford, who also represents Claines ward, said the former Harvester site was a “very bad location” for a new McDonald’s and fast food restaurants should not be built outside schools and youth centres.

Kate Brunt, chief executive of The Rivers CE Academy Trust which runs neighbouring North Worcester Primary Academy, previously said the impact on her students “should not be ignored.”

The new primary school, which opened in September, would only be a short walk away from the proposed McDonald’s.