'Ipswich Road KFC would harm town centre'

PLANS to build a fast-food restaurant on the edge of Colchester could harm the town if they are given the green light, according to a planning bosses.

Colchester Council has lodged a strong objection to plans to build a KFC restaurant in Ipswich Road, which falls into Tendring.

In a letter of objection to Tendring District Council, planners warn the takeaway would be harmful to the town centre.

It said: “By taking trade away from the town centre, this proposal undermines the town centre’s economic viability and this also undermines the interests of sustainability.”

It also said the proposed restaurant would be “in the wrong location” adding: “It should be located at a service station on a major road.”

The letter also questioned why the land, which is beside the historic Lion and Lamb Cottage, is included in the Tendring boundary.

“If the area had been included in the Colchester Borough, it is likely it would have been incorporated into the Severalls strategic employment zone,” it said.

The letter also warns noise and light disturbance to nearby residents would be caused.

“This business will be open late in to evening, when local residents are most likely to be home, when they would have a reasonable expectation of quiet.”

Comments(16)

Mr Honest says...
11:50am Fri 1 Feb 13

CBC make a fortune from fines issued to drivers parked in the Bus Stop on the High Street every night due to the drivers visiting KFC. Of course they will protest!

TheCaptain says...
12:22pm Fri 1 Feb 13

Mr Honest wrote:
CBC make a fortune from fines issued to drivers parked in the Bus Stop on the High Street every night due to the drivers visiting KFC. Of course they will protest!
I don't think that really happens do you?

I not sure how it would affect trade in the town though.

Grabber says...
1:10pm Fri 1 Feb 13

Why wasn't all this sorted out before 3 months of roadworks which gridlocked Ipswich road ?

super waluigi says...
1:30pm Fri 1 Feb 13

The KFC in town is dreadful. It is dirty, small and the que is horrible.

The only effect that building a new one would be is a direct effect on the existing KFCs sales.

This might be over the top, but how would the council react should development commence around the football stadium? Most good towns and cities around Britain have shops, cinemas, theatre, gig nights, restaurants and more to do in new areas away from the cultured town centre.

So long as we have small minded people pulling the strings in Colchester, building nothing but flats, we cannot grow economically and become a town to visit or move to. But then again many people in Colchester (and many on this site) would prefer to keep it that way.

Scoot says...
2:00pm Fri 1 Feb 13

Is it April the first ?? Are these the same planning bosses that approved the development of the new Sainsburys and the restaurant next door ? Well done Gazette for saying it was next to the 'historic lion and lamb cottage', but what you forgot to say it was next to a pub, near car dealerships (including the bloke who sells 4wd on the slip road). Not exactly a picturesque area.

romantic says...
2:09pm Fri 1 Feb 13

Got to say it seems unlikely this would take any trade away from the KFC in town. Personally, I´d rather eat somebody else´s vomit than anything KFC produce, but clearly they believe there are enough people out there who will buy the stuff.

It is odd that this area is part of Tendring, would agree with that, and it would make sense if it becomes part of Colchester instead. Logically, Colchester extends at least out to the A12. Maybe this is something that could be changed, but can´t see the effect on town centre being realistic.

Say It As It Is OK? says...
2:15pm Fri 1 Feb 13

Quote: "By taking trade away from the town centre, this proposal undermines the town centre’s economic viability and this also undermines the interests of sustainability.”

That's rich coming from CBC with all the planning errors they have made during the last few years.

The town centre is on its last legs now and the KFC on the High Street is hardly something to admire or a reason visit the town centre.

Also how strange CBC approved two out of town McDonalds in their own borough but they object to an out of town KFC being built in another council's juristriction!

jim_bo says...
8:04pm Fri 1 Feb 13

KFC is the life blood of the town centre. If its position was compromised then the whole town would fail.

No one else can offer chicken flown in from Thailand and then deep fried.

If this out of town KFC is built I can see Debenhams and BHS would definately fail.

Boris says...
1:20am Sat 2 Feb 13

Say It As It Is OK? wrote:
Quote: "By taking trade away from the town centre, this proposal undermines the town centre’s economic viability and this also undermines the interests of sustainability.”

That's rich coming from CBC with all the planning errors they have made during the last few years.

The town centre is on its last legs now and the KFC on the High Street is hardly something to admire or a reason visit the town centre.

Also how strange CBC approved two out of town McDonalds in their own borough but they object to an out of town KFC being built in another council's juristriction!
Very good point, Say It.
The boundary between CBC and TDC was settled long ago. It may be anomalous but then this country is full of anomalies.
CBC have done considerable harm to the council tax payers of TDC by closing our bus station, which was heavily used by people from the TDC area. So TDC do not owe us any favours. In fact I suggest they approve three or four night spots to be open till 5 am in the same area as the proposed KFC. This would relieve the pressure on Colchester town centre.

Joker50 says...
7:29am Sat 2 Feb 13

I can see Colchester Council's point of view, where people would go into town to do there shopping whether they need clothes for example or a new watch battery maybe, things that you cant get out of town people just wont bother when the new KFC opens.

wellnow says...
4:18pm Sat 2 Feb 13

What a pictuesque view of one contributors eating habits on this thread.

Smouldering Ewok says...
5:07pm Sat 2 Feb 13

"The letter also warns noise and light disturbance to nearby residents would be caused."
Since when did CBC give a hoot about residents.
Bunch of hypocrits!

Hamiltonandy says...
10:19pm Sun 3 Feb 13

Of course if it had been another Tesco both councils would have said nothing!

Scoot says...
12:05pm Mon 4 Feb 13

True Hamilton. Wonder if the Planning bosses heard desert island discs yesterday....

Hamiltonandy says...
11:05am Wed 6 Feb 13

Based on rubbish picked up near Glen Avenue, McDonalds is a winner.Nothing from KFC!

Bean29 says...
12:30pm Thu 7 Feb 13

What a load of rubbish!! What about putting jobs into colchester for the unemployed!! Have these councillers been to colchester town centre recently, there is nothing in the town centre!! If people were just driving by, and see a kfc and they are hungry they would drop in, putting money back into the town! The kfc in town is disgusting, they never have food ready, and are so slow, and never get my order right! Hence why i dont go there, all it boils down to is the people that dont want it on their doorstep, fair dos, but yet they do live near the a12 a restrurant, a industrial estate, and multiple car garages, and a hotel, i cant see how a fast food joint would be much different, just people making a fuss over nothing!!

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