Herne Bay is set to get its first McDonald’s, despite fears the neighbouring car park could be used as a “circuit by boy racers.”

A Food Warehouse, B&M and a builders’ merchant are also set to be built on Altira Business Park, on The Boulevard, alongside the fast-food branch, in a project which developers say will bring in more than 100 jobs.

Canterbury City Council’s (CCC) planning committee approved the expansion of the industrial estate at a meeting on Tuesday, after hearing about anti-social behaviour and traffic concerns.

Cllr Andrew Harvey (Green) said litter and such behaviour is “likely”.

He added: “It’s already quite a problem in the Sainsbury’s car park in the evening, with nuisance drivers congregating there and I think this is only going to exacerbate that problem.”

Altira Business Park currently hosts a Snap Fitness gym and a Sainsbury’s, which opened in November 2018.

Cllr Paul Prentice (Lab) suggested the council recommend developers include speed bumps around the car park.

“I know that these kind of sites are very good at attracting that sort of antisocial boy racer type,” he said.

The car park could “be used as a circuit by boy racers,” he continued, adding: “Mitigations need to be in place to prevent that from happening.”

The McDonald’s is set to be a drive-thru, with capacity for 60 seated diners and an outside children’s play area.

When plans were lodged online earlier this year, 29 residents wrote in to object, many citing fears of more traffic on the busy A229.

A planning officer explained that the Reculver Road and Mickleburgh Hill junction will turn into a mini roundabout as part of improvements for a nearby housing development.

Cllr Rob Thomas (Con) expressed fears over increased traffic in the area.

He said: “In my eyes its an accident waiting to happen on that roundabout, and with the extra flow of traffic going into there at that drive-thru McDonald’s there are going to be crashes there.”

“McDonald’s unfortunately creates a bit of a boy racer situation sometimes, but there’s nothing we can do until that happens.”

Sean McGrath of WSP, acting as an agent for Kitewood, told the committee that “the proposed retail units and restaurant will be complementary to Sainsbury’s.”

He added: “Given the number of new homes that are proposed in Herne Bay a builder’s merchant should be welcomed, it will help the delivery of houses.”

Around the business park, Kitewood have 1,430 homes planned for the Hillsborough site to the east, and 67 at nearby Blacksole Farm.

“This site has been allocated for employment use for over 20 years but has never been developed because there is not the demand,” Mr McGrath continued.

“This proposal will create over 100 new jobs and promote economic development in Herne Bay.”

Nine votes were made in favour, two against, and one abstention.