Fears over Telford fast food restaurant plan which could bring 100 jobs

Hickory's Smokehouse is set to create up to 100 jobs at its first ever new-build, which is planned for land at The Rock, opposite Old Park roundabout.

It would be the first time the company, which serves Deep South-style American barbecue food, has built a restaurant from scratch.

The plans are expected to be given the green light when they comes before Telford & Wrekin Council's planning committee on September 5, but residents are worried over the increase of traffic on nearby roads.

Planning officer Steven Drury said Hickory's bosses had demonstrated that no other sites were available, and that the local highways network would be able to cope with traffic.

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"The proposed development will provide a distinctive, high quality building design which will be sympathetically landscaped and will visually enhance a prominent site adjacent a busy roundabout junction," he said.

"The applicant has satisfactorily demonstrated that no preferable sites are available and that the proposal can be accommodated by the local highways network.

"It is not considered that there would be an adverse impact upon residential amenity. The proposal will bring considerable social and community benefits in terms of job creation, career progression and involvement in local community initiatives."

But residents in The Rock have said that the restaurant could cause issues in the area.

'Over-developed'

Alexandria Taylor said: "We look out directly onto this site that's full of wildlife and trees. Having a restaurant will not only ruin that view and remove that wildlife, but will also bring along those things that associate with a restaurant – continuous noise, disturbances throughout the day and at unsociable hours, rubbish, bins, smells, rats, traffic.

"In what is all ready becoming an over-developed area, traffic, noise and speed is already a major issue this will just vastly increase it more."

Michael Francis said: "The entrance to the site is too close to Colliers Way, and Rock Road is not a suitable a entrance for this application. The road is not wide enough to take all the extra traffic this will generate.

"I live close by and also believe the noise and smell that it will generate will be detrimental to the area."

Cara Meehan said: "The application for a new chain resturant here is totally out of character for the area.

"Southwater has been developed specfically for chains like this as there are adequate instrastructure in place. With empty units there it would surely be more suitable."

Hickory’s, which currently has seven restaurants across the Midlands and North West, serves burgers, ribs and brisket and typically employs teams of between 80 and 100 people, and the company said it would be looking to hire similar numbers in Telford.