Neighbours of the site where KFC wants to open a fast-food restaurant fear the litter problem near their homes could get even worse.

KFC would be just metres away from McDonald’s on Peel Road, Douglas, if it gets planning permission to open there.

As our photographs show, some litter louts dump the debris from their meals in car parks nearby.

McDonald’s litter can be found on streets nearby and, often, miles away too.

While objectors have concentrated on potential problems with traffic and health, litter is now a big concern too.

As we’ve reported recently, KFC and Starbucks want to develop the old Eurocars site next to Isle of Man Newspapers’ headquarters.

Their planning application has now been lodged, while members of the public have been invited to make comments.

There are currently 16 objections from nearby residents, all of which are publicly available on the planning website.

Comments have included those from residents such as Mr and Mrs Howland of Ballakermeen Avenue, who noted that since the opening of McDonald’s, the amount of litter in the area has grown and they now see it ’regularly’.

Mr Dallison of St Catherine’s Close said litter from McDonald’s could be seen ’for miles’.

Mr Kermode, also of Ballakermeen Avenue, also criticised the plans, stating: ’Undoubtedly, there will also be more litter resulting from the proposed development.’

An Examiner reporter walked along Peel Road and back round past The Bowl to see if the problem is as bad as residents say.

As our pictures show, plenty of litter can be found around McDonald’s.

However, a dog walker who we spoke to said the company is not to blame.

He said: ’It is a real shame. McDonald’s has a guy who comes out at least once a day and clears Peel Road, the lane opposite McDonald’s and the Quarter Bridge car park.

’It is not their fault that people won’t take responsibility for their rubbish.’

That view is one shared by Beach Buddies founder Bill Dale who said: ’Without question, if you analyse the litter we find and remove, it is almost always fast food-related, so wrappers, chip cartons, plastic knives and forks.

’But it is only a small percentage, maybe 10% of people who do it. The majority are sensible and dispose of it properly.’

Mr Dale also praised McDonald’s in its approach to tackling the problem with litter.

He said: ’The staff at McDonald’s have been great in volunteering for beach cleaning and cleaning paths. As a company it has also made the move towards removing plastic straws by next year and good for them.’

Mr Dale said he thought that the government should remove VAT on all fast food outlets for two years on the proviso that they give up single-use plastics and penalise any who don’t after the two years are up.