The new restaurant has caused a stir but many also think it would be good for the area
The new KFC in Heswall(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Some people believe it could be “the end” of their Merseyside town as a new KFC is set to open. The new fast food restaurant opening in Heswall has caused a stir with hundreds of comments on social media and even an Adolf Hitler parody.
The new KFC has opened this week in Heswall after transforming the town’s old Halifax building at 224 to 226 Telegraph Road into a new restaurant. A planning application has gone in to make a number of changes to the front of the building.
The 40-seat restaurant is expected to create around 30 new jobs and KFC supports over 4,500 jobs across the North West. The chain is also opening a new restaurant in Crosby.
However the opening of the new fast food restaurant has been a topic of concern for many people in the affluent Merseyside town known for its wide variety of shops including independents. Some have welcomed the news as good for the area but others have claimed it was “the downfall of Heswall”.
Hundreds of comments have been posted in a local Facebook page. One person even went to the lengths of creating a parody using a famous scene from the 2004 film Downfall, a war drama depicting the final days of Adolf Hitler.
The satirical video highlighted concerns around “rotting chicken bones”, potential impacts on house prices, a joke some had moved over to Rock Ferry, and claims it was the end for Heswall.
The new restaurant is one of two new ones in Merseyside(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Concerns have been raised by the Heswall Society, who welcome the investment KFC is bringing into the town, feeling this would boost footfall. However they did feel the application did not provide detail on a number of key issues including waste management.
Steve Anderson, the society’s chair, said: “We are not against KFC coming to Heswall but we have a number of problems with the particular application”, adding: “Is it positive or negative? I think the jury is out on that.”
However many have also welcomed the new restaurant. One person said: “Heswall’s got a busy high street so maybe let’s try keeping it that way instead of throwing a tantrum every time a new business opens.”
Another said: “This is fantastic news. There is so little that kids in Heswall can do independently and if they can go and meet their mates here, that is progress.”
Heswall councillor Andrew Hodson, who was criticised in the parody video for not opposing the development, said: “People have made complaints about other premises that have opened in Heswall in the past and now they all use it.
“I find that is the case all the time. I would have preferred something else in Heswall but I am happy for it to go in there.
“It’s a shop being used and not being left empty. I would rather have something that will help the economy of the town and I have had more positive comments than negative ones.”
Responding to those claiming it would be the town’s downfall, he told the ECHO: “I do not believe that is the case. I see more positives than negatives. I am not concerned about it.”
A spokesperson for KFC UK & Ireland said: “We’re proud to be joining the Heswall community and are committed to being a good neighbour. Our Heswall team will be taking part in daily litter picks to help keep the area tidy, and we’ll have clear signage in and around our restaurant encouraging customers to respect the community and throw away their litter responsibly.
“We’re a long-term partner of Keep Britain Tidy, and through our support of the Great British Spring Clean campaign our Liverpool restaurant teams have hit the streets to collect hundreds of bags of rubbish from across their local communities over the last five years.”