Cllr Tomlinson Joined By Local Residents During The Successful Campaign In 2002
Thank you to all the residents who joined myself, Cllr Peter Stoddart & Cllr Owen Lister to be photographed by the Evening Advertiser.
There was an excellent article in the Evening Advertiser (with a big picture) on Friday, 25th April. (See below for the text)
This will have helped generate some excellent publicity for this campaign.
I am delighted to say, residents have already started sending in letters of objection, which I will personally pass them all onto the Planning Officers. Please do make sure if you speak to any neighbours that you do encourage them to reply to the leaflet we distributed last week.
We will continue to update the website as more information becomes available.
Cllr Justin Tomlinson, Abbey Meads Ward
Conservative Parliamentary Candidate, North Swindon
Evening Advertiser 25/03/05
THE ADVERTS say it's finger-lickin' good, but protesters in Swindon are furious at a fresh bid to open a KFC in Ash Brake.
Residents struck a blow for people power when proposals for a strip of drive-through fast food restaurants were shelved three years ago.
Campaigners then feared the plans for a McDonald's, KFC, a pizza parlour and a video store would blight the neighbourhood with noise, smells, litter and traffic congestion.
The site in question is an area of scrubland surrounded by homes on three sides the nearest properties being just seven metres away.
The latest plans have re-ignited local fears.
Coun Justin Tomlinson (Con, Abbey Meads) led the original objections, and is planning to rally residents for a fresh battle.
"We will do absolutely every-thing we can to prevent this from going ahead," he said.
"It was a huge relief when the last plans failed, it would have ruined the area."
But he admits the chances of success are slim.
Planning permission for commercial use has already been granted, which limits the power of councillors to reject applications for the site off Pennine Way.
Last time round developers scrapped the KFC outlet to scale down the overall scheme.
Plans eventually stalled because residents objected to McDonald's opening for breakfasts, which led the firm to withdraw.
But KFC which has three branches in town doesn't serve breakfasts.
Coun Tomlinson said: "With any planning application, you are prevented by law from objecting for simply not liking a scheme.
"We objected to McDonald's serving breakfast, which meant it wasn't viable for them to open.
"It will be tough, but we will fight this all the way."
He has sent letters to local residents calling for them to object on the grounds of noise, smell, traffic, layout, opening times and litter.
Previously a petition against the plans was signed by 250 people, and a new one is in the pipeline.
A spokesman for KFC said: "It is not appropriate for KFC to comment now, other than to say we have put forward a planning application to the relevant authorities and we will wait for their decision."