Bus chiefs fear a new drive-thru restaurant in Canterbury will make traffic gridlock worse on a city road already blighted by congestion.

Stagecoach is calling for Taco Bell’s bid to open on a new industrial park off Sturry Road to be snubbed.

The bus operator’s commercial director, Matthew Arnold, says the addition of the fast food restaurant – which would be within 300 metres of a KFC and a McDonald’s – could stop it from providing a regular service.

In an official objection to the plans, he writes: “The Vauxhall Road roundabout nearby regularly becomes gridlocked with people attempting to access the existing McDonald’s drive-thru and the inadequately sized car parks for the adjacent retail parks.

“This frequently results in long tailbacks as far as Sturry, and the Kingsmead roundabout.

“The addition of a third fast-food restaurant is likely to exacerbate an already unsatisfactory situation, and further hinder our ability to operate a reliable bus service in Canterbury and beyond.”

Planning papers for the new business park – on land that used to be part of Southern Water’s sewage works – say the Taco Bell would be visited by people using the park and ride close by.

But with Canterbury City Council set to mothball the massive site, Mr Arnold suggests some of the arguments for supporting the restaurant are no longer valid.

He also believes the junction between Vauxhall Road and the A28 will be further gridlocked by Taco Bell customers trying to get to the restaurant, as the site will have a left-turn-only entrance.

“The existing bus stops close to the plot are minimally furnished,” Mr Arnold added.

“As a minimum, to encourage public transport use as opposed to car use, developer contributions should be sought to upgrade these stops with shelters.

“Consideration should also be given to providing an alternative westbound bus stop opposite the proposed development.

“Without any additional measures to mitigate for the expected increase in traffic levels and delays to buses, Stagecoach objects to this application in its current form.”

Glenbeigh Development lodged its latest set of proposals for the 3.5-acre plot last month, as it finally presses ahead with its decade-old vision for the site.

The company first unveiled drawings to build a trade park on the outskirts of the city in 2009.

Modified plans to house national firm Storage King in one of the buildings were given the green light in February.

This came just days before Glenbeigh revealed its hopes to add the Taco Bell and five trade counter units to the development.

Papers submitted to the local authority by the builder say: “The scheme has been developed following careful consideration of all the site-specific design criteria and relevant legislation.

“The proposals will help fill in this currently vacant site, and improve the public realm along Sturry Road, while providing valuable assets for the local environment and economy.

“The new buildings will contribute positively to the local environment.”

In all, the development is expected to create up to 50 jobs and will be equipped with 96 parking spaces.