KFC will come to Evesham.

At least to the Twyford services on the A46 on the edge of town.

But only just.

Councillors on Wychavon District Council’s planning committee were asked to decide on an application by the fast food giants to open a restaurant and drive-through facility at the service area – and they were split in three ways.

Four members voted to approve the scheme, four voted against, and five abstained but, as chairman of the committee, Councillor Tony Rowley voted to approve the application.

Much of the concern from councillors opposed to the scheme was around the location of the restaurant, the difficulty for young people getting there without driving and the possible effect on Evesham town centre.

Jim Powell, representing the Evesham Civic Society, spoke against the plans and said: “This will be a draw to young people, many without access to cars and we believe the chance of a serious or fatal accident is increased.

“No provision is made for pedestrians and the application says the 592 bus serves the site but the nearest stop is over two kilometres away.”

The representative for KFC, Kathryn Ventham said: “The restaurant will not generate extra traffic as it is to attract those people who are already on the road and to offer them a rest stop. There is no KFC in Evesham town centre, so it is no direct competition, and it will generate 50 new jobs.”

Not every councillor was convinced by that argument.

Deputy chairman of the committee, Councillor David Wilkinson said: “This will have an impact on Evesham town centre. Because it’s less than 1,00 square metres there’s been no impact assessment and because there’s no drive-through in town no comparison has been made- well of course there’s not a drive-through in the town centre.

“But we all know how Evesham town centre is doing- the number of empty shops. That’s why I have difficulty supporting this application.”

And Cllr Jo Sandalls, said: “This area has been developed piecemeal: there’s a restaurant, a hotel and now this. Just east is an extremely important battlefield site.”

Chairman Tony Rowley told the committee that having approved the building of a Costa Coffee drive-through at the site last May, it would be difficult to justify turning the application down.

His arguments seemed to convince at least a number of councillors whose abstention meant they didn’t support the application, but allowed his casting vote to see the scheme get the go-ahead.

Evesham Journal has attempted to contact KFC UK but has received no response.