FAST food chain KFC has unveiled even bigger plans for its proposed Bournemouth town centre takeaway restaurant - but not everyone is happy.
The American chain has withdrawn its old planning application to build a new eatery in Lansdowne Cresent across two units occupied by Mail Boxes Etc and Eaters Pizza.
This followed the closure of its ground floor site in Royal London House where it operated for many years.
Now, KFC has expressed intentions to occupy a third unit, the Immaculate Chaos tattoo shop, with a formal planning application.
Mail Boxes Etc and Eaters Pizza both lodged formal letters of objection to the council over KFC’s plans which would oust them from their existing location.
Mark Cater, of Eaters Pizza, said he and Mail Boxes Etc had been asked by his landlord to leave the premises after 14 years of trading there to make way for KFC.
Read more: Bournemouth KFC looking to relocate to new site in Lansdowne
He added: “If they relocated to alternative premises then all the jobs from KFC, Eaters Pizza and MBE could be saved, enhancing the area by reopening otherwise shut premises, increasing the rates payable and maintaining existing facilities for night clubbers, small businesses and family diners and tourists.”
Others objected to the application, saying they didn’t want to see Mail Boxes be moved due to the “convenient” location.
One man said: “If this planning application is allowed I believe it would be extremely detrimental to Lansdowne as a thriving area for business.”
KFC's new application proposes trading hours of 10.30am to 11pm, a “significant reduction” on the current closing time of 5am for the existing pizza shop, KFC pointed out.
Read more: Royal London House in Lansdowne to become shared office
Beamish Planning Consultancy, on behalf of the applicants, said: “Following extensive dialogue with the case Officer, in April 2023 the [council] advised that it would not grant planning permission, solely because of concerns relating to a loss of active frontage resulting from the proposals.
“Any other concerns raised during the [council] consideration of that planning application had been addressed to the [council’s] satisfaction.
“Consequently, the applicant decided to withdraw both the planning application and associated express advertisement consent application in order to revise the proposals to address/overcome the [council’s] concern relating to the reduction in active frontage.”
The current application has yet to be decided.
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