Neighbour row sees homeowners hoist banner next to McDonald's after fast food chain destroyed her fence

A neighbour row between a homeowner and McDonald's broke out after the chain left 'unrepaired damage'. (Google image).

Google Street View
Susanna Siddell

By Susanna Siddell


Published: 07/10/2024

- 16:19

Updated: 07/10/2024

- 16:40

Building works left 'unrepaired damage' to her fence in Ilkley

A woman living next to a McDonald's has hoisted a banner to say she is 'not loving' the conglomerate after building work carried out by the chain destroyed her fence in Yorkshire.

Rachel Laidler, 55, complained that the fast food chain's building works, which went ahead without planning permission, had damaged her wall, digging a 15-foot hole for a water treatment tank beyond the fence.


Laidler, who currently lives with her husband, 70, and father, 91, was infuriated by the way in which she was treated by McDonald's, as well as the local council as she attempted to raise the issue.

Consequently, she raised a banner, mimicking the chain's slogan, which reads: "We're not loving it. See the unrepaired damage they left behind their fence."

Google street view of the house affected by works on the new McDonald's site.

In response to the fence damage, Rachel Laidler raised a banner, mimicking the chain's slogan. (Google image)

Google Street View

Laider explained her anguish is rooted in the fear that Labour intends to roll back planning laws and set mandatory housing targets that will trigger many more instances like her own.

The mother-of-four told The Telegraph: "People all over the country are having these issues.

"Everybody says you shouldn’t take on McDonald’s, but it’s just wrong what they are doing. They just don’t care and yet they pretend to care. So that’s a conflict in their marketing.

"I’m just angry and I just can’t bear injustice. I’ll stand up for the people in the next development as well now that I see the bigger picture."

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Laider's husband, Peter, was undergoing treatment for throat cancer when the building works to turn an ex-Kashmiri restaurant that had fallen into disrepair into a McDonald's had been announced.

Initially, Laidler and her husband developed a good relationship with the builders, with her husband helping the workers out at times, but this came to an end once they dug a 15-foot hole that caused the wall to slip and crack.

She said: "They came around and said, ‘We’re going to be digging a hole really quite close to your fence... It might be good if the dogs don’t go round there.

"And then we couldn’t believe it – it was literally the other side, and this hole just got deeper and deeper. It’s 1.9m from our bedroom wall and it’s over 4.5m deep."

Google street view of the new McDonald's site in Ilkley, West Yorks.

The homeowner had a good relationship with the builders until they dug a 15 ft hole on the other side of her fence, causing it to slip and crack. (Google image)

Google Street View

A spokesperson for McDonald's said: "Relevant experts have assured us that the relocated tank does not impact neighbours or the surrounding area in any way, and we are working with the planning authority to make sure they are satisfied the correct procedures have been followed, and will follow any further steps they ask us to take."

"We have made a commitment to repair the damaged fence and this week we contacted the neighbour to discuss next steps."

A spokesman for Bradford council has said: "The council is aware of this issue and is in discussions with the owners’ representatives.

"We have been advised that a retrospective planning application is being prepared and once received the council will fully consider it, which will include the usual publicity to give residents a chance to make their comments."

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