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The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Our lives have been ruined by a sickening smell – it's lowered our house prices and it's about to get even worse
NEIGHBOURS of a KFC drive thru have warned Britons of the "awful" reality - with disgusting smells, litter and reckless delivery drivers. It comes as the fast food chain has announced a £1.5 billion expansion plan, with 500 new stores set to hit the UK over the next five years. 10 10 10 10 They hope to rival the growth of other chicken shop chains like Popeyes and Wingstop. In addition to its 500 new stores, they will upgrade 200 of their existing stores, as well as taking on managers, chefs, and newly created 'guest experience' roles. Residents in West Wickham, London have warned against the expansion plan, citing littered streets and disgusting smells as just some of the issues the company brought to the area. The site has undergone many transformations over the last decade or so - beginning as the beloved White Hart pub before becoming a taperia, a steakhouse and, as of 2017, a KFC drive thru. It is particularly problematic for the residents living on Cavendish Way, as many of their gardens back on to the fast food restaurant's car park. During the planning process, over 1,200 residents launched a campaign against the proposal. The proposals were submitted twice, facing significant backlash throughout, before they were approved by Bromley Council, setting a regrettable precedent that 'if you just persevere you can do anything' according to retired city worker and local Tim. Once approved, Tim said that they completely changed the site - chopping trees down, filling in a pond, and covering the site in tarmac. He now refuses to visit the site in protest. Tim said: 'I don't mind a KFC but I refuse to use that one.' When his daughter and her now-husband stayed at his house, they were under strict instructions not to visit that particular store. His frustration with that specific branch, which is located off a roundabout at the top of Cavendish Way, stems from the litter and smells. Tim said that he has seen people drive onto their street to eat the food before throwing their rubbish out of the window, sometimes littering his drive. While the store 'said they would send someone out to keep the road clean', Tim said, 'they haven't done that.' Catherine Carol, who lives opposite Tim, has experienced similar issues. She said: 'It's bloody awful. I came home yesterday and there's a load of rubbish on the street by my house - they don't clear up after themselves. 'We have got masses of boxes around here. It's disgusting.' In addition to the rubbish, she said the KFC has made it difficult to enjoy the summer weather, with residents of Cavendish Way's gardens facing the drive thru. She said: 'In the summer you can smell the grease and oil.' From when the store opens at 10.30am, until it closes at 11pm, residents are subjected to the smell of oil, grease, and fried chicken, as the wind carries the smell into their gardens. It left Catherine saying: 'I wish it wasn't there.' Neighbour Dean Ferguson, 62, has found the smell particularly difficult to deal with. He said: 'The noxious smells you get drafting across at peak times can overwhelm you.' Like Tim, he has seen people parking on their road to eat the fast food before 'launch[ing] it out the side of the car.' He added: 'It's really disgusting, people don't seem to care.' This is an issue he foresaw when the proposals were initially submitted, as he was one of the many residents to object to the plans. 10 10 10 He said: 'I did object to it several years ago. I could see what was going to happen.' Even when it isn't open, 83-year-old Derek Avent said: 'There's a 24-hour smell that just doesn't go away.' Derek lives in the retirement village on the opposite side of the KFC. He said that his ground floor flat is ruined by the smell, particularly on summer days when he opens his window. Derek added: 'On a sunny day like today when I open the window it's all I can smell, and it's bad.' Another issue Derek highlighted is the increased traffic caused on quite a small road. Delivery drivers are a particular concern for retirement home residents as he said: 'All you see going there are just guys on bikes with the big boxes for delivery orders, and they have no care for motorists or people walking nearby.' Dean said that traffic is especially bad during peak times, like on a Friday, which can 'create quite a bit of congestion.' Not all residents are as put off by the fast food chain though, as Devin Parmar, 41, said: 'It's actually a selling point - I like the smell.' He added that 'it's really convenient' and that ultimately he is 'glad it's there.' Devin did acknowledge the risk of increased litter with the chain's expansion, however, he said: 'that's more on people throwing rubbish on the floor, not throwing it in a bin.' As long as KFC provides adequate bins and accounts for successful waste management as part of the expansion, Devin thinks it will be a good thing, and the members of the community should learn to take care of their litter. With the news that the store expansion could create 7,000 jobs, Devin said it was nice to see 'a chain… actually investing in the UK which is a good thing' especially 'at a time where people are complaining about cost of living and unemployment rates.' Philip Charsley, 60, shared a similarly positive mindset. He said: 'To be honest I haven't had any problems with it. While he admitted you do 'occasionally get a smell', he said 'it's no worse than somebody that's having a barbecue.' His main issue with the chain is that 'it's just not good food' as he would rather cook from scratch than indulge in the deep fried food. While most residents seemed to agree that its former occupants were better, they were also more apprehensive about what could replace the KFC if it ever shut down. Tim initially expressed a hope that 'it might close down' as he noted it's 'never really that busy.' However, he said: 'The worry now is if that does fail, what do you get next? A McDonalds or a Burger King? I just don't want those sorts of places.' Slightly further down the road is a McDonalds drive thru that Philip says 'causes major traffic issues,' leaving him grateful that the KFC is not very busy. 10 10 10 Long-term residents seem more put-out by the addition to their suburban neighbourhood, while Philip and Devin, who moved to the area four and six years ago respectively, were more positive. With an average Trip a dvisor rating of 1.7, visitors to West Wickham's KFC complain of rude staff, soggy fries, and incorrect orders. While the new initiative could provide new job opportunities, residents of West Wickham empathise with Britons across the country who might be feeling apprehensive about the chain's expansion. Despite Devin's positive attitude, he did acknowledge that 'litter and pest issues will be the main concern for residents across the country as it could cause issues in each of the bubbles near each location.' A spokesperson for Bromley Council said: "Permission was granted for this development over a decade ago, which followed the usual process for determining Planning applications and considered all representations, including from residents, received at that time. "We have had few complaints relating to this property, but residents can raise any concerns, which will be investigated through our Planning or Public Protection Enforcement teams as required." We have approached KFC for comment.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Huge 17.5-metre phone mast could be installed next to Beckenham flats
A new 17.5-metre phone mast could be coming to Beckenham. The mast, which would support six antennas and two dish antennas, is proposed for land adjacent to Flat 1, Beckenham Court, The Avenue. A phone mast, or cell tower, is a tall structure equipped with antennas and technology that send and receive radio signals, enabling mobile phone communication. The application, submitted by Cornerstone, also includes plans for two equipment cabinets at ground level and associated development works. Bromley Council has confirmed it has received the application and is now inviting public comments. The full application is available to view on the council's public access website using reference number 25/01541. Comments must be submitted in writing to the Assistant Director (Planning) at the Civic Centre, Churchill Court, 2 Westmoreland Road, Bromley, BR1 1AS, within 21 days of the notice's publication. The council will then determine whether prior approval is required for the siting and appearance of the telecommunications apparatus. The consultation period is part of the standard process for such proposals, allowing residents to express any concerns or support for the development. The application has been submitted under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (England) Order 2015, which covers the installation of telecommunications infrastructure. Want to find out all the latest planning applications, alcohol licensing applications and planned road closures near you? Then search the Public Notice Portal. The Public Notice Portal is owned and operated by the News Media Association, the voice of UK national, regional, and local newspapers in all their print and digital forms. NMA members include nearly 900 local and regional news titles which reach 40 million people across the length and breadth of the country each month. Many of these publications have served their communities for centuries and remain the most reliable source of verified news and information. Created by local news publishers and supported by the Google News Initiative, the portal carries statutory public notices published in local newspapers and is the fastest and most effective way of finding out what is happening in YOUR neighbourhood.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Crystal Palace Subway wins global 'Oscar' for heritage restoration
A newly restored Victorian subway has jointly won a prestigious Museums + Heritage Award. The Crystal Palace Subway, which is one of the few remaining structures from the Victorian Crystal Palace complex, was announced as the winner of the Restoration or Conservation Project of the Year award at a ceremony in central London on May 15. The restoration of the subway, which was completed last year, was led by Bromley Council and the Friends of Crystal Palace Subway, with guidance from Historic England. Crystal Palace Subway in 2018 view from the east (Image: Chris Redgrave/ Historic England Archive) The subway is now back in public use 160 years after it first opened, under the management of the park's new custodian, Crystal Palace Park Trust. The Crystal Palace Subway jointly won the award with The Landmark Trust's Calverley Old Hall, beating off competition from HMS Victory (National Museum of the Royal Navy), and two National Trust projects - Beatrix Potter's Dolls' House (Hill Top) and the Long Gallery Ceiling Project at Lanhydrock. The Museums + Heritage Awards are global awards regarded as the 'Oscars' of the heritage sector. Crystal Palace Subway in 2024- view from east looking into the vaulted underpass (Image: Historic England Archive) The Restoration or Conservation Project of the Year category highlights the quality of work undertaken on restoration, repair and conservation projects within the UK, and is awarded by Museums + Heritage in partnership with ICON, the Institute of Conservation. The award's judges called the subway's restoration "a bold, beautifully executed restoration, blending community energy with expert conservation to revive a lost historic space. "Driven by local passion, it safeguards the past while creating a vibrant future for all." Councillor Yvonne Bear, executive councillor for renewal, recreation and housing, said: "This is an incredible achievement for all involved and I sincerely thank our partners for helping ensure this special site was restored in a fashion in keeping with its rich history, that is entwined with the international prestige of the Crystal Palace itself. "Residents can now enjoy this space under the careful watch of Crystal Palace Park Trust, as we press ahead with delivering the wider regeneration plan for the park, aiming to replicate the high standards we have set with the subway restoration." Jules Hussey, of the Friends of Crystal Palace Subway, said: "The community remains at the heart of the subway: as volunteers, visitors and huge fans of this beautiful hidden site. "This award recognises the collaboration with Bromley Council, the architects and all the craftspeople involved in this breathtaking restoration, and we are excited by what the future holds for the subway in the hands of Crystal Palace Park Trust." The £3.5m project was funded jointly from the City of London Strategic Investment Pot, more than £1m from Historic England, and significant local support and individual donations. Highlights of the project include a new glass roof, reconstructed staircases and the reuse and sourcing of heritage materials to maintain the character of the building. In its first three months since reopening, the subway, run by Crystal Palace Park Trust, was visited by around 6,000 people, and hosted events from a craft market and pop-up cinema screenings to stand-up comedy and a silent disco. Victoria Pinnington, chief executive of Crystal Palace Park Trust, said: "Huge thanks to the judges of the Museums + Heritage awards for recognising the efforts of our funders and so many in our community to resurrect the spectacular Crystal Palace Subway. "We look forward to welcoming visitors to many more events at this special, award-winning place and encourage them to explore the rest of the iconic 200-acre, Grade II* listed Crystal Palace Park as we embark on the next phase of the park's transformational regeneration plan." The subway restoration is the first phase of the major regeneration of Crystal Palace Park, being delivered by Bromley Council and Crystal Palace Park Trust.
Daily Mirror
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Sadiq Khan urged to block high rise that skirts Grenfell building rule by 30cm
Tory controlled Bromley Council has approved an application to build a tower block in Penge, South London, that attempts to get around the rule by reducing the height of the building by 30cm. London Mayor Sadiq Khan has been urged to step in and block a developer's bid to sidestep new building regulations brought in to prevent a repeat of the Grenfell Tower tragedy. New rules state any tower block over 18m tall must have two staircases to allow residents to escape if a fire breaks out. But Tory controlled Bromley Council has approved an application to build a tower block in Penge, South London, that attempts to get around the rule by reducing the height of the building by 30cm. The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and building safety campaign groups have today sent a letter to Sir Sadiq, calling for the Greater London Authority (GLA) to prevent the building going ahead until plans meet the 'highest standards of building safety.' 'The fire risks are almost identical as a building that is 30cm taller and would not meet the requirements of the regulations,' the letter reads. 'Evacuation at Grenfell was severely hindered by the single narrow stairwell' The letter goes on: 'Allowing this building to proceed sets a precedent for other developers building properties across the country to treat fire safety as an afterthought instead of the top priority. 'The Grenfell Tower Inquiry laid bare the impact of poor and reckless decision-making where profit was put before lives. Lessons must be learnt.' The letter was signed by FBU General Secretary Steve Wright and representative of End Our Cladding Scandal, UK Cladding Action Group, Justice4Grenfell, Tower Blocks UK and ACORN. A spokesperson for the Hadley Property Group and Clarion Housing Group, responding when concerns were first raised in January, said: 'All the buildings in the scheme comply fully with the latest building regulations and fire safety standards. "As a matter of best practice Hadley Clarion took the step of redesigning the scheme twice during the planning process to meet evolving legislation... when the threshold was amended to 18 two staircases." They added: "This was done despite transitional arrangements that could have allowed us to proceed with the original plans. "These costly and time-consuming decisions were made to prioritise safety and ensure compliance with the highest standards."
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Chislehurst Car Show road closures confirmed by Bromley Council
Road closures will be in place for a car show. Bromley Council has issued a temporary prohibition of traffic order to facilitate the Chislehurst Car Show on May 5. The order will be in effect from 7am until 6pm. The following roads will be closed to through traffic during the event: - Chislehurst High Street, between its junctions with Willow Grove and Centre Common Road - Ashfield Road, between its junction with Chislehurst High Street and the mini roundabout junction with Loop Road The restrictions will only apply while the relevant traffic signs are displayed. Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times. Access to properties will be maintained as far as practicable from either side of the closure. Emergency access and egress routes will remain in place throughout the event. The full public notice is available on the News Shopper website. Queries regarding the notice can be directed to Bromley Council's Environmental Services Department (Traffic Section) on 020 8464 3333, extension 4546. Want to find out all the latest planning applications, alcohol licensing applications and planned road closures near you? Then search the Public Notice Public Notice Portal is owned and operated by the News Media Association, the voice of UK national, regional, and local newspapers in all their print and digital forms. NMA members include nearly 900 local and regional news titles which reach 40 million people across the length and breadth of the country each month. Many of these publications have served their communities for centuries and remain the most reliable source of verified news and information. Created by local news publishers and supported by the Google News Initiative, the portal carries statutory public notices published in local newspapers and is the fastest and most effective way of finding out what is happening in YOUR neighbourhood. Public Notice Portal Find, save and share Public Notices that affect you in your local area
