News | Fast food plan Your views


“Snodland does not need orwant something like this.Obesity is a national problemand a KFC here is not an option.” AnnickWest,Malling Road


“Why not turn the site into hous- ing? Snodland desperately needs it.”


ValWhate, Brooke Lane


“It’s simply not the right site. There are no crossing facilities in HollowLane,which is a residen- tial lane.Malling Road gets noto- riously busy anyway. “AKFCwill bringmore youths


with anti-social behaviourwho, instead of eating a decentmeal at home,will eat greasy chicken and fatty fries because that iswhat’s attractive to them. Looking at other fast food


restaurants in the area, you can see the amount of litter.” SarahHeath,Malling Road


“The site is just inappropriate. The KFC is not for the people of Snodland, it’s for peoplemiles away travelling to get a KFC be- cause the only other drive-thru is the one inGillingham. People fromRyarsh,Allington, Larkfield. Peoplewill be drawn to the brand, especially school kids.” Georgina Turner, Brooke Lane


“The place theywant to put the car park sees right intomy front room. You can see intomy garden wheremy kids play. The site is completelywrong.” AnneAustin,AlexHughes Close


“There is no suitable crossing for the site and no additional high- wayworks planned. Part of the site is actually owned by KCC and the landwill need to be bought by them. In rush hour, lor- ries block themain road. Just be- cause they are offering a few more jobs does notmean those jobswill go to local people.” David Rayner, Coroner Terrace


“Snodland is becoming one big fast food restaurant.” Leanne Lambox,AlexHughes Close


“Lorry drivers coming off the M20will stop at this KFC and its known that lorry drivers block the main road, causing chaos. “They have already turned the


oldNatWest on theHigh Street into aDominos.Howmany fast food takeaways dowe need?” TinaHasemore, Lakeside


4 Malling May 2019


downsmail.co.uk


KFCplan causing Snodland dispute


ACOMMUNITYstandsdividedover controversial plans to breathe new life into an old oast house…by converting it into a fast food outlet.


A franchisee for KFC has in-


flamed passions after proposing to turn the Snodland site into a drive- thru and restaurant. As Downs Mail went to press,


more than 200 opponents and 20 supporters had put pen to paper and fired off their thoughts to bor- ough planners, who will ulti- mately rule on the Hollow Lane proposals. Banners have already appeared


on the land, reading “Say no to KFC drive-thru” and “Yes to KFC it’s cluckin’ amazing”. Those against the moves cite


traffic, litter, unfair competition, anti-social behaviour and obesity as their primary concerns. Those in favour say KFC will bring jobs,


investment and regeneration to the area. Opponent Jim Kirkwood, of


Alex Hughes Close, told Downs Mail: “The proposed entrance is rightoutsidemyhouse. Ihave lived here for 20 years and I don’t want the smell, traffic or 11pm meets in the car park. I have spoken to two local chickenshopswho, afterhear- ing about the proposed site, are thinkingof closingdown.Snodland is full of barbers and takeaways. If anything, this proposal takes away jobs,because localbusinesses aren’t able to compete.” But supporter Tim Groves, of


Apple Close, said: “There are 10 takeaways in Snodland, KFC is hardly going to create that much


impact. I’mthe first to comment on things if theyarewrong,butpeople are justmakingsillysigns andcom- ments on Facebook instead of con- sideringthe actual issue. “There is a petrol station opposite and a pub that sells food all day with live music, and people are worried about aKFC?Obesity and anti-so- cial behaviour are cultural issues, where’s the individualwill power to not eat take away food every night? “Snodland desperately need


jobs and environmental invest- ments. The opening hours start at 11am, so will not attract any cus- tomers in rush-hour traffic.”


Report and pictures by Jade Schopman


‘Commentswill all be considered’


IF SUCCESSFUL, the KFC applica- tion would see the “partial demoli- tion of the existing building” but “the retention and associated im- provements of the existing oast house, roundels and cowls”. It would include a 29-space car


park, and the restaurantwould, says the applicant, employ about 45 full- time and part-time staff. A spokesman for TMBC said: “We


have received comments about many aspects of the proposals that will all be considered as part of the officer report to the planning com- mittee.” She added that a committee date was not yet known.


Neighbours Ben,Michael and Jim, of Alex Hughes Close


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