Fast food chain McDonald's will have to overcome a number of statutory hurdles before being given the go-ahead to build a new restaurant in Oakham.

Rutland County Council has issued a response to McDonald's plans to open an outlet in the town, as reported on Oakham Nub News yesterday (Mon).

A spokesman for the council told Oakham Nub News today: "We have been made aware of a consultation event being held by the food company McDonald's as part of considerations for a potential restaurant in Oakham.

"We are yet to receive any formal planning application for a new McDonald's restaurant at the Hawksmead Business Estate.

"If a planning application is received it will need to be assessed against national planning guidance and the council's own adopted planning policies.

"This would also require a statutory planning consultation asking members of the public and other interested groups to give their views on any proposals."

Several readers contacted Oakham Nub News yesterday to say they had received a letter inviting them to a drop-in exhibition next week about a proposed new McDonald's restaurant, which the company says will create at least 65 full or part-time jobs.

The exhibition event is being held at Victoria Hall on Wednesday, May 22 between 2pm and 8pm.

Rutland is currently the only county in the country not to have a McDonald's fast food restaurant.