Forum topic: Environmental vandalism in Green Lanes

Protests and new revelations – the McDonald’s tree massacre

Last week, we questioned McDonald’s global sustainability claims in light of evidence from Brazil, and reported on the destruction of 11 trees and installation of plastic grass at a McDonald’s drive-through outlet in North London. At the weekend, local residents demonstrated at the site, receiving a huge amount of public support.

The Harringay Green Lanes drive-through planning proposal was for “minor refurbishment” and made no mention of trees. Indeed, the applicant went as far as to tick the box claiming there were no trees that “might be important as part of the local landscape character”.

Haringey Council granted planning permission for “minor alterations that would not have an impact on the character and appearance of the building nor the area”.

Following the public outcry over the total removal of 11 mixed plane and lime trees, all around 37 years old, the owner of the franchise, Mr. Harry Rashid, claimed that some “drainage issues and a degree of subsidence in the area where the trees were located” led to his decision that “it was in the best interests of the trees to remove them”.

McDonald’s have now agreed ‘in principle’ to plant 12 new trees “in the area”, but campaigners are gob-smacked that rather than condemn the destruction of these valuable trees, or questioning the failure to refer to them in planning, now Haringey Council, Haringey Labour, and Cllr Mike Hakata all seem to be publicly applauding McDonald’s for this offer.

Drive-through owner Harry Rashid, responsible for the felling, posted a video with the tag-line “We Must Look After Our Nature And Green Spaces” which showed his staff volunteering at a local nature reserve.

Campaigners are not impressed by his words and want to see real action to restore the area and make amends.