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Ballyhackamore Residents Object
To KFC Plans
It would appear that some residents of
Ballyhackamore in East Belfast, have had enough when it comes to what
others are planning for their area. The development in
question is a plan by KFC to build a drive-through
restaurant on the corner of Knockhill Park and the
Upper Newtownards Road at Ballyhackamore..
So far, the Planning Service has received 81
objections to the plans including concerns raised by
local school Bloomfield Collegiate and the
Environmental Health Department of Belfast City
Council and the opposition appears to be building
momentum, with local politicians lending their support
in opposing a new Ballyhackamore KFC.
Local Alliance MLA for the area Naomi Long
described the plans as 'unacceptable', whilst her
colleague in the DUP Robin Newton MLA indicated that
if the plans were given permission there would be a
'negative impact' on family homes in the area.
If the plans were allowed it is clear that the
character of Knockhill Park would be changed, that
there would be substantial noise, light and odour
pollution day and night, that people's way of life
would be affected and their right to the enjoyment of
their property permanently affected. There would be a
danger of traffic congestion backing out into a
residential street or onto the main Upper Newtownards
Road and protestors would argue that such a danger
should not be permitted on the doorstep of a school
With a KFC drive-through based at Connswater and a
sit-down restaurant already in Ballyhackamore, it is
difficult to see the benefits of replacing this
Ballyhackamore store with a drive-through.
Regardless of the commercial motivation behind the
scheme, the residents of Ballyhackamore in East Belfast are squaring up
for the fight, and they're adamant that they're not
Chicken and they're not having anyone who sells it on
this site.
Last Amended 27th November 2008 |