Nuneaton KFC plan hits a traffic hurdle

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An attempt to build a fast food, drivethrough restaurant on a former pub site in Nuneaton has run into problems.



KFC have applied for planning permission to open an outlet where the Graziers Arms once stood in Weddington Terrace.

But Warwickshire County Council’s highways department are worried that it could cause traffic problems in an already busy area.

County councillor Jeff Clarke, who represents the area at Shire Hall, said: “They have come up with a number of objections.

“But they are mainly concerned with the access and egress to and from the site and that the turning area is not wide enough.

“There are also concerns that traffic will shoot across Weddington Terrace and into what is an already busy Weddington Road.”

The Highway Authority are also worried that there will be insufficient car parking provision at peak times and parking could spill onto the public highway exacerbating an already difficult situation.

They are also worried about the danger to pedestrians using Weddington Terrace if the plans go ahead.

Residents have already objected to the planning application and they are being supported by Cllr Clarke and Cllr David Carr, who represents St Nicolas Ward on the borough council.

“The residents do not feel that a drive-through restaurant would be appropriate on this site and we both agree,” said Cllr Clarke.

“It is not an ideal location for a venture of this nature and their main objections are about noise, litter and traffic problems with cars having to cross two lanes to go up Hinckley Road.”

Representatives of the developers gave a presentation at Etone School to show what they wanted to do, but Cllr Clarke said: “The residents were opposed to it.”

He added: “They did not have an objections to apartments on the site, but made it clear they do not want a fast food restaurant.”

The Graziers Arms was built in 1963 to replace an earlier pub that had stood there since the 1860s and was used by drovers bringing cattle to market in Nuneaton.

It was closed in 2007 and then demolished and the site has been cleared and is awaiting a new development.

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This is the original Grazier's Arms pror to demolition:


This view shows the old Grazier's Arms on the left and its replacement under construction on the right:

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KFC plan in the balance



A GOVERNMENT inspector is to decide whether a drive-in, fastfood restaurant can be built in a residential area after borough council planners failed to process it in time.

Worldwide restaurant chain KFC (GB) applied to build the fast food outlet on the site of the old Graziers Arms pub in Weddington Road.

But the eight week deadline for it to be dealt with by the planning department at the Town Hall ran out and KFC have appealed to the Planning Inspectorate at Bristol.

A planning inspector will now decide the fate of the application which has led to a storm of protest.

Dozens of local residents objected to the restaurant which would be opposite a sandwich bar at a BP garage, permission for which has already been granted on appeal.

They bombarded the Town Hall with letters of objection, putting forward a total of 58 reasons why the restaurant should not be allowed to go ahead.

Among their worries are increased traffic problems on an already busy road, pollution, antisocial behaviour and litter.

Paula Gasgoigne, whose home is in Old Hinckley Road, said residents already suffer consistently heavy traffic congestion.

“At the rush hour, all lanes are brought to a standstill and a KFC restaurant will add to the risk of an accident,” she said.

“We are also worried about levels of air pollution, litter and that a KFC will attract a greater number of youths at night.”

Ward councillor David Warr said that the junction near Weddington Terrace where the restaurant would be built can be a `nightmare’.

He also said that at times `boy racers’ turned Old Hinckley Road into a `Monaco Grand Prix.’ The borough council’s planning applications committee unanimously rejected the restaurant plan.

Several councillors expressed concerns about the traffic dangers and the worsening of air pollution that the increase in cars using the area would produce.

Warwickshire County Council’s highways department had objected on grounds of traffic safety and the danger to pedestrians.

All of the objections will go before the planning inspector when he hears the appeal within the next few weeks.

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Protesters have lost their fight against a drive-through restaurant on a busy Nuneaton road.

Fast food giants KFC have been given permission to build the restaurant on a former pub site in Weddington Road.

They will now go ahead and develop the restaurant on the site of the former Graziers Arms.

There were angry protests from local residents and Warwickshire County Council’s highways department was concerned about road safety issues.

The borough council’s planning committee also rejected the application.

Councillors feared that it could take trade from businesses in the nearby town centre.

But planners at the Town Hall failed to process the application in time and KFC were able to appeal.

An inspector at the Planning Inspectorate at Bristol upheld the appeal.

Katherine Moreton, head of planning at the Town Hall, confirmed that objections have been over-ruled.

She said: “The restaurant can now go ahead, subject to certain conditions.”

The restaurant will offer a drive through facility and the planning application was for it to be open from 7am until 11pm seven days a week.

There will be parking spaces for up to 21 vehicles, including a disabled bay, and eight bicycle spaces.

Thirty full or part-time jobs will be created and KFC have said they will use local developers to develop the site.

The Graziers Arms was once one of the busiest pubs in the area.

Built in 1963 to replace an earlier pub on the site, it was also popular with bikers.

But trade declined and it was closed in 2007 and then demolished.

Before KFC moved in there was an application to built flats on the site, but that was later withdrawn.

A spokesperson for the restaurant giants said: “As one of the UK’s favourite restaurant chains we’re always looking for new locations."