FURTHER CONCERNS have been issued about plans for a KFC in the heart of Stroud following a crunch meeting. 

Proposals have been in the pipeline for more than a year-and-a-half for a KFC, a Costa cafe and five apartments at the former Cotswold Indoor Bowls Club building near McDonald’s in Merrywalks.

Concerns about the application were raised shortly after it was submitted by councillors and business owners about extra traffic on the busy road. 

In April, the plans hit another stumbling block after highways requested that the application be deferred.

Stroud Town Council previously raised concerns traffic concerns, especially on a road with three traffic lights which it says already causes 'hold ups at peak times'. 

And now, at their latest meeting on Monday, November 11, Stroud Town Council's consultations and highways committee met to discuss the plans again. 

Members of the committee say they are 'disappointed' that many of the concerns they have previously raised haven't been addressed, adding that they were still concerned in particular with the traffic issues. 

A spokesperson said: "Given that there are so many issues as yet unresolved the committee has repeated their concerns about the scheme.

"The committee have resubmitted their previous concerns about the potential for the development to increase already difficult traffic issues on Merrywalks and their request for a turn left only scheme (both ways) to help alleviate this.

"Councillors were disappointed that many of the concerns previously raised remain unaddressed, including the lack of demarcated pavements for pedestrians at this busy, narrow, shared access, which has no separation of pedestrian and vehicles."

Other issues which the committee say have not been dealt with include concerns over parking, a 'failure' to provide solar panels and ongoing question marks about what it would mean for pedestrian access into the town. 

These concerns come after it was recently claimed that drains at the derelict site near McDonald’s in Merrywalks cannot cope with another large building, leading to flooding concerns.

When they were contacted last month by the SNJ for an update on the situation, an SDC spokesperson said: “We are continuing to assess this application for planning permission.

“Several aspects of this application require more input from key stakeholders before a recommendation or decision can be made.”

Following these flooding and traffic concerns, documents addressing both issues were submitted on behalf of the applicant. 

They said: "Our research shows that the proposal is safe for its lifetime and does not make flooding worse elsewhere.

“Our report demonstrates that the proposed redevelopment is acceptable in highways and transportation terms, and that there is not a ‘severe’ impact of the proposal.”

See the plans - tinyurl.com/2627r8td