McDonald's Near Heidestrandbad: Locals Protest, Council to Decide

Locals fear McDonald's will ruin their peaceful lake spot. Council to vote on the plan this week.

, and Administrator

2025 October 16 . 4:03 AM

1 min read

The boy in front of the picture wearing grey and black jacket is eating food with chopsticks.... — The boy in front of the picture wearing grey and black jacket is eating food with chopsticks. Behind him,we see children sitting on the chairs. Behind him, we see a wall which is in green and white color. On the right side, we see a white wall on which charts and posters are pasted. Beside that, we see a brown door. Beside that, we see a wall clock. This picture is clicked in the classroom.

McDonald's Near Heidestrandbad: Locals Protest, Council to Decide

A McDonald's restaurant is set to be built near the Heidestrandbad lake in Hemmoor, sparking controversy among locals. The city council will decide on the matter this Thursday.

The proposed location has drawn criticism from various groups. Heidi Stamm, initiator of the citizen initiative 'McDonald's at Heidestrandbad Lake: No Thanks!', fears the loss of a relaxation spot and increased noise, smell, and litter. Tobias Sohl, chairman of the Green local association Hemmoor-Lamstedt, argues that Hemmoor is 'rather a business-friendly community than a child-friendly one'. The initiative demands the restaurant be built in the industrial area instead, citing proximity to youth facilities and schools as concerns for traffic safety.

The city's action plan 'Child-friendly community' has also been called into question. Anette Anders, commissioner for children and youth participation, wishes for more involvement and better information for young people in the decision-making process. The city attempted to survey students about the plan, but the process was criticized for lack of preparation and insufficient information.

The Hemmoor city council will vote on the 'Approval Resolution for the Development Plan' on Thursday. The decision will determine the future of the McDonald's restaurant and the Heidestrandbad lake area.