Disappointed, angry and upset

HOT FOOD RUN . . . Rev Paul Plumpton on Huddersfield Road.

Vicar attacks KFC go-ahead opposite his church

AN angry vicar has hit out after a 19th takeaway was given the go-ahead within yards of St James’s Church.

Rev Paul Plumpton said he was deeply disappointed that councillors had approved a KFC drive-through in Barry Street, Derker, opposite his Grade II-listed church.

There are already 18 hot food shops on near-by Huddersfield Road between the church and the corner of Ripponden Road — with plans for a pizza takeaway also in the pipeline.

The churchyard has to be cleared of litter every morning, as well as vomit and mess left by those who use it as a toilet.

Mr Plumpton’s objections to the KFC planning application included traffic problems, litter, smell and vermin.

He said: “It is opposite one of the finest listed buildings this side of Oldham and I made that clear in my objections. I hope that they are going to come up and clear the detritus in my churchyard that’s going to result from this.

“We were promised three years ago that Barry Street was to be greatly improved to make it a gateway to Derker when it was regenerated, I do not think anybody envisaged that to be a KFC.

“We have got a gate 10 yards away from the proposed site. There are going to be people hanging about during all hours of the day now.

“Where are they going to go and eat, where is the most obvious place if they have got a takeaway?

“We get a vast amount of litter from the takeaways and McDonalds and this will just exacerbate it. I am clearly very, very upset.

“I am going to have to live with it now and they don’t.”

The application was passed by 12 votes to two by the planning committee after a bid to refuse it was defeated nine to five.

Councillors sympathised with the church, but Councillor John Battye said: “I do not think we would have a chance with the planning inspector if we were to turn it down.

“We would probably lose and have costs awarded against us.”

Ward councillor Jackie Stanton spoke against the application and said: “To say that this building would affect St James’s Church is a gross understatement.

“There are currently 18 hot food outlets. That’s just absolutely impossible and as an authority we do need to look at this.”