Construction has begun for a town’s fourth McDonald’s, with a digger and building materials seen at the proposed location.
The new 24-hour drive-thru is being built off A28 Chart Road in Ashford and will be accessible from Bridge Road.
Contractors were observed clearing vegetation on the site last week, and now an excavator and materials have been delivered.
Though an opening date has yet to be announced, once operational, the restaurant will be the fourth McDonald’s in the town, joining existing locations at Orbital Park, the High Street and only 1.2 miles from the Eureka Park branch.
The new restaurant will feature 136 seats for guests, an outdoor play area on the patio, 53 parking spaces — including two disabled spots — and 14 cyclist bays.
Furthermore, the restaurant will create 65 job opportunities in the local area.
Despite being originally submitted in September 2020, the plans were withdrawn four months later as further highways discussions were held with Kent County Council.
They were then resubmitted with two amendments, which included widening the roundabout entrance from Templer Way and moving a pedestrian crossing on Chart Road further down to improve traffic flow.
The plans were later approved in 2022.
However, the plans have been met with controversy among local residents due to concerns about increased traffic.
In 2021, a nearby business owner, Allan Morris, told Kent Online: “The addition of a McDonald’s on this roundabout will bring travel chaos to what is already a very heavily congested intersection.”
“This will bring constant trash issues, constant air pollution, and constant noise pollution to the businesses in Bridge Road,” he added.