The idea of a McDonald's restaurant opening in Monmouth has got the town talking.

A formal planning application is yet to be made, but a presentation made to town councillors as part of the pre-application process has stirred up much debate over the fast food chain.

Land off Dixton roundabout, between New Dixton Road and the A40, has been earmarked for a Costa Coffee, Marstons public house, bulky goods retail unit and veterinary surgery as well as a McDonald's.

David Cummings, Chairman of Monmouth and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said: "The chamber is likely to support any development which enhances the profile of the town and encourages more people to shop locally and does not adversely affect the transport system, parking or existing businesses.

"On the information available so far this development would fall short on a number of points.

"The location is out of town and therefore unlikely to encourage people using this site to come into town to do their shopping.

"The site is likely to have an entrance only a couple of hundred metres from Dixton roundabout on Dixton Road and is therefore likely to cause traffic wishing to enter the site to back up on to A40.

"Agincourt School and Monmouth Comprehensive School are just a few hundred metres away and at school times traffic is already backed up, not only on the A40, but also on Dixton Road.

"When I checked a number of years ago this site was classified as C1 land under Technical Advice note (TAN) 15 and was considered liable to flooding by the Environment Agency.

"MCC planning office at the time was against development of the site for retail use, not only because of the flood risk, but also traffic issues.

"I have asked Welsh Government Highways (SWTRA) and Natural Resources Wales (NRW), who have taken responsibility for flooding issues, to respond with their views on the proposed development, but at time the time of writing this statement, no response had been received.

"The chamber considers this site should not be developed for retail use."

A number of residents are set to meet with MP David Davies on Friday (1st November) at the site to voice their concerns, while others have taken to social media to have their say. A Facebook group called 'McNo – no to McDonalds in Monmouth' was started on Saturday and already has more than 200 'likes'.

Emma Hill (@mrsbryn) tweeted the Beacon to say: "I really hope not! We are better off without one" and Anne Wareham (@AnneWareham) described the proposals as a "waste of space".

Others wondered what impact any development would have on the town's road network, with Emma (@jelly340) asking: "Do you think they'll sort out the hazardous Dixton roundabout then? Nearly die going to Agincourt school most days!"

Rachel Davies (@Rachellou9) suggested not everyone was against the idea: "Jack thinks all his xmas's have come at once maccy d and costa!"

David from Monmouth said on the Beacon website: "Monmouth is an attractive town in an attractive, rural environment. I think that such a development in this highly visible site would be damaging to people's general perception of Monmouth.

"The planning consultant refers to landscaping but inevitably all the units will be prominent to encourage sales. I think this is an awful proposal which MCC [Monmouthshire County Council] must refuse planning permission on."

Sophie added: "This is awful. I've a daughter attending Monmouth Comprehensive school and I'm pretty sure most decent parents don't want their children shovelling more mass produced vile fast food down their necks.

"The school canteen service which offers a variety of healthy foods will suffer and shouldn't we protect the one small area of the world that McDonald's haven't invaded?"

Matt from Monmouth said: "With the sites of the old 'Little Chef' services on the A40 and behind the Budgens Garage at the bottom of the high street already having planning permission for this kind of facility, is there any reason why it cannot go onto one of those sites instead of a field that is often used for community events?"