FAST food chains KFC and Greggs’ bid to open the Forest of Dean’s first proper stand-alone drive-thru looks likely to be rejected.

The fried chicken giant and the home of the steak bake are hoping to create a takeaway site in Coleford.

But the planning application for a drive-thru on land east of Perrygrove Road has been recommended for refusal by Forest of Dean District Council officers.

The proposals have stirred up a row with many saying it could open the floodgates and change the nature of the Forest. They say it will lead to the area losing its uniqueness.

Coleford Town Council is among those objecting to the proposals and they say the number of takeaway establishments in the town has led to a loss of shops. They also say it is potentially leading to an increase in obesity in Coleford.

However supporters of the proposals say the Forest has to move with the times and they are fed up travelling miles to Ross-on-Wye or Gloucester to buy takeaways such as KFC, McDonald’s or Domino’s pizza.

They argue it will also create jobs, boost the local economy and give locals and tourists what they want

NNA Ltd, the applicants, say they anticipate the end users of the proposed restaurants would be KFC and Greggs. If approved, KFC will have a building footprint of 5,155 sq ft with seating for around 60 people.

And the Greggs building would have a footprint of 2,766 sq ft with seating for approximately 32 people.

Both buildings are designed to be single storey. And between them there would be the car parking area, providing spaces for 32 vehicles including disabled parking, large order and collection bays.

The fast food restaurants would create 27 full time jobs and 17 part time jobs, according to the developers.

However, planning officers recommend rejecting the scheme because it is outside the defined town centre and would have a harmful impact on Coleford.

They also say there is not enough information about their operational hours, ventilation equipment and odour control.

The proposal also fails to make appropriate provision for pedestrians to use the site which in turn raising issues regarding potential safety to users of the site, according to the council report.

Councillors were haing the final say on the proposals at the development management committee meeting yesterday (Tuesday, August 8) after the Beacon wnet top print.