PLANS to build a KFC on Billericay High Street have been approved despite an impassioned speech from a doctor warning of the health risks to schoolchildren.

Basildon Council’s planning committee met last night (November 17) to determine plans for the fast-food giant to open a branch to replace the vacant Coral betting shop at 126 High Street.

KFC says the store will create approximately 40 jobs – 20 full-time and 20 part-time – and will be open from 11am – 11 pm, seven days a week.

Addressing councillors at the meeting, Billericay GP, Dr Sachin, who has lived in the area for more than 20 years, warned the plans should be rejected.

“I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t tell people that this takeaway is the closes fast-food restaurant to Quilters School,” he said. “The distance is 300 metres walking and only 450 metres to The Billericay School.

“Public Health England has already acknowledged that the association between fast food and proximity to schools shows causation with obesity.”

He added: “Councils such as Tower Hamlets and Barking and Dagenham have already adopted a 400-metre exclusion around schools for hot food takeaways while Brighton has imposed 800 metre.”

The GP also raised concerns increased traffic create and unsafe environment.

“The increased traffic this takeaway is going to create is unsafe,” he said. “It will attract customers to park illegally short-term to collect their food as well as a plethora of delivery services at an area which is often the bottleneck of the high street.”

Ward councillor Andrew Schrader, who voted against the scheme despite stating his desire to bring in new jobs, told members of his fears it would create litter issues along the road.

“Litter is a considerable concern with a business like this, particularly in a busy high street like Billericay,” he said. “These kind of businesses are always a concern, but I am quite encouraged by KFC’s corporate good neighbour guide.

“The provision of 40 jobs in my ward weighs heavily on me and I don’t believe in stifling competition, but I have concerns about highways and litter,” he added.

KFC’s good neighbour guide pledges: “Every restaurant has a litter-picking programme to keep the local area clean. Our staff conduct up to 4 litter patrols each day; surrounding the restaurant and up to a 100m radius”

Planning permission was granted by five votes to one.