By Local Democracy Reporter Jordan Ifield
A ‘Tim Hortons’ coffee shop/restaurant and drive-through at Broadstairs Retail Park which will create 30 full time and 40 part time jobs has been approved by Thanet council.
The Canadian food chain, launched in Ontario in 1964, began to expand to the UK in 2017. It currently has 29 venues open and more due to open across the UK with the nearest site to Thanet currently in Thurrock.
The Thanet outlet will be the first in Kent and shares the same retail park as Tesco Extra, Currys/PC World, The Range and Wickes.
The chain offers food including doughnuts, bagels, burgers and pancakes and a variety of coffees and cold drinks.
When built the store will open between 6am and 11pm, seven days a week.
Plans had been submitted to Thanet District Council last year and the decision was taken tonight (January 19)
At a tense planning meeting councillors had mixed emotions about seeing another fast food chain come to Westwood.
Many councillors were openly concerned about the grass land Hortons would occupy with Cllr Helen Crittenden (Lab) calling the site an example of “environmental poverty”.
Another member worried about over-development was Cllr Mike Garner (Green): “My concerns are around the impact of the biodiversity and loss of trees
“Within 100 metres there is the McDonald’s which has just had an application approved to upgrade its drive-thru to three lanes which is going to increase the traffic.
“On the other side of the McDonald’s there’s a new drive-thru Starbucks that is being built, which is also going to increase traffic.
“When you add all of these together there is going to be a quite adverse affect on the air quality and traffic.”
However not all those disappointed with the application voted against it, as Cllr Rick Everitt (Lab) said the council would struggle to refuse it.
He said: “We have to consider this application on its own merits, not consider how many coffee shops are nearby. I would be concerned if we rejected this application because I think we would struggle to justify a refusal.
“What does concern me is at one point that greenery was considered a positive benefit of previous proposals, then someone else comes along and says they want to develop that piece of land. Which does make a nonsense of the whole thing.”
In an unusual step the Chairman of the planning committee, Cllr Michael Tomlinson (Cons) said the grass area had been blighted by litter for years and said he wanted to see it developed.
Eventually councillors were persuaded to approve the application, mostly by the jobs it would create in Broadstairs and voted it through.
Cllr Keith Coleman-Cooke (Cons) said: “I understand what people are saying about the grass but I think we should take into consideration that it was a huge grass area before it became Westwood.
“When we talk about people shopping there, I don’t think it’ll increase traffic because people will choose whether to go to McDonald’s, Starbucks or Hortons.
“Personally I also think 70 jobs is a lot of local jobs.”
In a statement the developers say: “Its (Tim Hortons) current focus is to expand its drive-thru model across the UK, including at the application site.
“The Tim Hortons offer is different from that provided by the likes of McDonalds, KFC and Burger King and is comparable to that provided by coffee shop operators such as Costa or Starbucks, with a substantial part of the offer comprising hot and cold beverages and bakery goods, including an extensive choice of donuts.
“The hot food offer includes paninis and ‘melts’ as well as hot sandwiches and wraps, again similar to other coffee shop operators.”
Planning officers had recommended the restaurant for approval claiming that while there would be a loss of some green space and six trees, the space was not protected and the economic benefits outweighed the environment.
To rectify this Hortons will plant 10 new trees and wildflowers around the site.
Can’t wait, need something different from a drive thru, the range of food and drink on offer is something else, check out the menu,
Excellent news
Another FAST food joint adding to Thanet’s appalling obesity and heart disease statistics! No wonder TDC Everitt and Tomlinson, never agreed to my letter request to sign up to “Public Health England’s Initiative” to promote healthy food establishments and limit those that were conducive to bad health like other responsible councils in the country have done ! Makes me wonder why any council wouldn’t want to improve the health of their residents …..perhaps they also get a big fat bung from these large outlets?!!!!! Sickening!!!
Donna you are right TDC are not a responsible council all they can see is the money.
A great addition for the “Coffee Crawlers” that must make at least 20 + places . Great for jobs 100%. Traffic well that’s just bad planning from the conception of Westwood Cross by TDC
Tim Horton’s has been in other areas of the UK, for several years.
Tim Horton’s is an iconic Canadian brand, very much similar in status as Dunkin’ Donuts in the USA, and Costa in the UK.
The company has been in different corporate hands over the years, with a noticeable decline in quality.
The baked goods ( donuts, cakes, pies, etc) used to be made in-house but most of their baked goods are frozen and ‘ trucked in’.
The most common complaint about Tim’s ( in Canada) is the price increase in product, but with a decline in product quality.
That said, Canadians still queue up in the ‘ drive thru’ for their ‘ double double’ or eat in for a chat with friends.
I’ll give it a try to compare menu items and pricing. It likely will be cheaper than the always overpriced Starbucks.
Best bit of the article was the humor at the end referring to the loss of nature “To rectify this Hortons will plant 10 new trees and wildflowers around the site.” The term “lip service” comes to mind. There are plenty of location on WWX without any nature, why not use them? Still, the decision has been made. What I want to know is what TDCs Climate Change office(r) had to say. Maybe an FOI request would be in order?
More concrete and less biodiversity in Westwood adding to the flooding scenario. Well at least it will give some jobs locally as that was the excuse that made TDCs mind up wasn’t it?!!
I like the bit where it says a Councillor was worried about the grass area being lost, yet they approve building on huge swathes of farmland in various areas of thanet. The only reason these plans get approved is because of the monetary bonuses given by government as incentives for approval, tdc have just had over £500,000 in building bonus which helped plug a shortfall in the finances.
KR who actually gives a damn about biodiversity in Thanet? certainly not TDC, so it will create jobs, p.ss poor paid jobs as is the norm for this area.
agree KR
My wife and sister had many cups of tea etc when they were in Winnipeg good memories of their older sister Janet can’t wait for it to open
When will you be opening can I book a table/slot for my family
Regards
Alf