Plans to install new electronic menu boards at the McDonald's in Maldon have been approved by district councillors.

Maldon District Council's central area planning committee voted through the plans for the McDonald's in Fullbridge, which had been revised following a previous refusal, last night (Wednesday, 17 November).

The previous application proposed four double-width screens and one single-width screen for the site, and was refused in September on the basis of overdevelopment and visual clutter.

This was reduced to five single-width screens in the latest application, which had been recommended for approval by district council planning officers.

Speaking at last night's meeting, a planning officer said the reduction would "overcome the previous reason for refusal and would reduce the overall visual clutter at the site".

She also said the signage "would not have a detrimental impact on highway safety".

The smaller electronic menu boards are set to serve the drive-through lanes on the site, after district councillors approved a proposal to move the McDonald's to two drive-through lanes in July.

Councillor Mark Heard, the chairman of the district council, said: "I'm pleased to see the reduction of the visual clutter."

Councillor Kevin Lagan added: "It does make it visually more attractive on the eye."

Although the McDonald's is open 24 hours, Councillor Christopher Swain proposed to add the condition that, if it were to shut at any point, the illuminated signs would be switched off.

This was seconded by Councillor Heard and voted through unanimously.

Councillor Heard's proposal to accept the application was seconded by Councillor Anne Beale and also voted through unanimously.