Flintshire: Plans for KFC and Starbucks on A55 near Holywell refused

Despite being backed for approval by Flintshire Council's planning officers, the local authority's planning committee has rejected the proposals amid concerns around traffic and parking in the area and the fact the development would be within open countryside.

The fast food and coffee giants would have been located on a piece of land next to an existing branch of McDonald’s at the Singing Kettle services in Lloc, near Holywell.

It’s estimated the proposals by franchise firm Gastronomy Foods would have resulted in 40 people being employed at the restaurant with 20 in the coffee shop.

The company said it would help to cater for holidaymakers who use the busy expressway to travel along the the North Wales coast.

But several planning committee members had voiced concerns over the plans before they were refused.

Cllr Owen Thomas, of Cilcain, said: "If you visit this site, it's hazardous - the size of the lorries that come into this site it's very dangerous. The entrance to this site was not made for 40 tonne lorries.

"It's in the open countryside and we talk about obesity and diabetes - can we as a planning committee be seen to be endorsing another fast food outlet?

"There have been a number of refusals on this site in recent years - so I can't see why this one can't be."

Cllr David Evans added: "I visited this site over the bank holiday weekend and I was shocked to see cars parked on double yellow lines on the road outside of the fast food outlet.

"I found the place to be crazy busy - the footpaths are crumbling due to cars parking on them. I know every weekend's not a bank holiday weekend but from what I've been told most weekends are like this.

"When I looked at where the application site is and what's intended to go there while using the existing access road I was shocked.

"To have one entrance to service what's currently there as well as what's outlined in these plans is wrong. If they (the developers) wanted this they should come back with plans including a separate entrance and exit point."

It had been agreed that the applicant makes a contribution towards the implementation of a Traffic Regulation Order, secured via a Section 106 Legal Agreement to prevent parking on surrounding streets.

Cllr Chris Bithell said: "We've got a petrol stration, a spar, Greggs and McDonald's already there and if these plans are passed we'd have a KFC and Starbucks as well. Where would it end?

"I could see Burger King, Costa Coffee and others trying to get in there as well.

"And with it being an application for a drive-thru KFC, people would likely pick it up, eat it in the car then dump the rubbish somewhere along the A55 in Flintshire later."

Cllr Patrick Heesom was the only Flintshire councillor to speak in favour of the plans.

He said: "Whether people like it or not this is a designated site - and the fact of the matter that it is our policy is to dedicate certain areas to this kind of traffic.

"You're going to almost certainly lose it on appeal, there's clear demand for this and the local authority has got a duty to fulfill this demand.

"I'm really at a loss to see what common sense grounds there are for refusing this."

The plans were refused by 14 votes to 6.