Meath County Council has given the green light for a KFC drive-through outlet at Brews Hill in Navan, sparking an angry reaction from a nearby school, local parents, residents and traders.

Outrage has been expressed at the proposal to build a fast food outlet at the gates of two schools, especially at a time when the HSE has mounted a major childhood obesity campaign.

Local traders also warned that it would cause traffic mayhem on an already very busy street and would mean the loss of vital parking spaces, which serve local businesses.

The principal of St Joseph’s Convent of Mercy, Mary Mulligan, said the school was currently preparing an appeal against the decision and opposition has also been expressed by a number of residents and traders.

However, Cllr Shane Cassells welcomed the fact that 40 new jobs would be created by the KFC restaurant and said it would be worth an initial €2m to the local economy.

“Any opportunity to bring jobs to Navan and give local people employment is just fantastic,” remarked Cllr Cassells.

Herbel Eastern Ireland Ltd has been granted planning permission for the construction of the single-storey drive-through restaurant and 33 car parking spaces on the former Irish National Forresters Hall site - which has been used as a car park in recent years by Navan Town Council.

Dr Nazih Eldin, the HSE lead on obesity, said he was really disappointed at the decision as the site is located at the entrance to St Joseph’s Mercy Secondary School, in the vicinity of the Mercy Primary School and not far from St Patrick’s Classical School.

However, Cllr Shane Cassells said the project would be a €2m economic injection into a site in the town that has been derelict for the past few years and has had two commercial premises bulldozed off the site.

“Bringing life back into the middle of town and creating jobs is my number one goal,” he said. “We have heard traders complain about retail leakage to Blancharstown and the only way you reverse that is by having every major brand in your own town which is what we are trying to do.”

Cllr Cassells also praised the unique design of the building, which incorporates a piece of sculpture into the drive-thru section. He said this showed that the company has an appreciation for the fact that it is in the centre of town and wanted to do something high-quality.

A spokesperson for the franchise that operates KFC in Ireland said the drive-thru restaurant would create around 40 career opportunities in the area.

“We are always sensitive to the local community, and should our application prove successful, we will, of course, work closely with residents to ensure that any concerns are addressed,” the spokesperson said.

