PLANS for a new KFC in the city centre have been rejected.

A decision to open the fast food restaurant in an empty building in The Cross, Worcester was put on hold during last month’s city council planning committee to allow councillors to see the city centre at night.

Cllr Stuart Denlegh-Maxwell visited The Cross late at night several times and said he saw “nothing that would make him change his mind” and the council should be encouraging businesses to invest.

He said: “KFC is not a ‘fly by’ group. They invest. This is how we design out crime by improving the area.

“We need to encourage businesses who are experienced and are prepared to invest. This is a business that is prepared to invest.”

A spokesman for KFC said he was “disappointed” the proposal had been marked for rejection and said a new restaurant would enhance the area.

He said no “conclusive evidence” had been put forward to say a new KFC would have a detrimental effect on the area and there was “no valid reason” to reject the proposal.

Cllr Chris Mitchell, chairman of the city council’s planning committee, listed a number of “positives” in the application – including the creation of 40 jobs, 24-hour CCTV in a crime hotspot as well as filling an empty unit in the city centre.

Cllr Louis Stephen rubbished the argument that ‘one more fast food restaurant would not make a difference’ and said a new KFC would make things worse.

The planning report showed many concerns over crime and anti-social behaviour in a part of the city centre already suffering from a high level of disorder.

Objections were also made by West Mercia Police – who called it a “recipe for disaster” – as well as neighbours, taxi drivers and the county’s Public Health bosses.

Public Health said another fast food restaurant in The Cross would make more problems for an area already heavily concentrated with takeaways. Cllr Chris Cawthorne said it would be “disgraceful” for the council to overturn its own planning policies. The application was rejected by six votes to four.