A Bedford KFC has had its planning application for a drive-through formally refused on “highway safety grounds” at a council planning meeting.
Bedford Borough Council’s Planning Committee voted last night (Monday, 18 November) to agree with the official wording to refuse permission for a drive-through facility at the existing KFC at 498 Goldington Road.
Read: Councillors to agree on wording as permission for new KFC refused
Gideon Richards, manager for development management (planning), reminded the Committee that the application was originally debated in September, but was deferred for a site visit.
“At the October meeting members resolved to refuse the application on the highway safety grounds,” he said. “Particularly in relation to the access and egress onto Goldington Road from the drive-through.
“It was recommended that the application be reported back to the November meeting for members to agree to the wording of the reason for refusal.”
The wording in the report was: “The proposed site layout would result in the users of the drive-through lane having to join the public highway at the existing access on site that would result in vehicles having to undertake a sharp U-turn manoeuvre and cross a bi-directional cycle-footway to gain access onto Goldington Road.
“As a result, there would be potential for conflict with pedestrians/cyclists and other vehicles on the highway contrary to policies 31 (i), (iii) & 88 (vi) of the Bedford Borough Local Plan 2030.”
Cllr Leigh Coombs (Lib Dem, Shortstown) said: “This [wording] represents my feelings from the site visit.
“It did seem incredibly difficult to navigate your way out of the drive-through whilst doing a U-turn effectively onto potentially a busy road, crossing pavements and cycleways,” he said.
All seven committee members who were eligible to vote agreed with the wording and the planning application was refused.
By John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
