One of Kent’s only McDonald’s-free towns could finally have its first branch – but some residents have labelled the bid “crazy”.

Historically, Herne Bay has escaped the pull of the golden arches but plans to build a restaurant in nearby Broomfield were unveiled this year.

Now, some objecting to the drive-thru diner at Altira Business Park off the New Thanet Way argue the proposals will bring traffic “mayhem”.

The move forms part of Kitewood Estate’s wider plans to roll out other household names on the site, including B&M, Food Warehouse, and an unnamed builder’s merchant.

Kitewood, which is responsible for the neighbouring 67 homes at Blacksole Farm, says the new retail buildings will “enhance and compliment” the area.

The firm launched plans for the 60-seat McDonald’s complete with children's play area in January this year.

If successful, it will join Sainsbury’s petrol station, Snap Fitness gym, a driving test centre and a Screwfix store, which are already on the site.

The new McDonald’s will save residents having to drive to Chestfield, near Whitstable, where the chain’s nearest venue is.

However, not everyone is enthused by the bid.

David Haywood decried the “crazy location” of the site, off the busy A299.

“Local roads already can't cope with the extra traffic being bought in by the new Sainsbury's & petrol station,” he wrote to Canterbury City Council’s planning department.

“Bring a drive-thru into the equation and this will add to this mayhem.”

Michelle Cook wrote in to tell of “many local people putting properties up for sale as they are fed up with the amount of development in this area which is not necessary when Herne Bay town centre has many vacant properties”.

Kitewood’s homes at Blacksole Farm and the business park are in addition to the 1,430 properties planned to the east at Hillborough.

Taylor Wimpey was given the green light by former Housing Secretary Michael Gove in 2021 to erect its 900 properties, along with an 80-bed care home, shops and community centre.

Kitewood was also given the go-ahead by the city council to build 180 homes on its own portion of the Hillborough land two years ago.

The city council is also yet to decide on an application for up to 350 homes on a western chunk of the land by AE Estates.

Katie Porter also wrote in to the council, saying: “The roundabout next to the exit of the Sainsbury’s petrol station cannot cope with the traffic that is there now.

“A drive-thru restaurant is going to make it much worse.

“I'm all for supporting a restaurant in this location but a drive-thru is going to be bedlam.”

Some however are less incensed by the plans, with Janet Gates writing: "I don't see a problem at all, we need businesses to bring people to Herne Bay and surrounding areas and create employment for people."

A spokesman for Kitewood Estates said the developers "have given careful consideration to the layout of the proposed scheme at Altira Park”.

"The McDonald’s has been consciously located at the eastern end of the new retail park, which will be developed on the railway line side of the estate road (The Boulevard), opposite the existing Sainsbury’s car park,” they said.

"The McDonald’s has been put at the far end of the site to maximise the distance between the entrance of the retail park and the entrance to the McDonald’s.

"We are confident that this is more than sufficient to prevent any impact on the public highway from vehicles queuing to visit McDonald’s.

"There is generous queuing space for more than 30 cars within the car park and as such, there is no realistic prospect of cars backing up out of the car park on to The Boulevard, and no likelihood of Thanet Way (the A299), which is over 0.5km away from the McDonald’s, being adversely affected.

"The impact of the McDonald’s and the wider scheme has been fully appraised by Kent County Council’s highways department and they are satisfied that there will be no unacceptable highways impacts.

"We believe that Altira Park is a suitable location for a McDonald’s, and a new McDonald’s will be complementary to the existing and proposed commercial and retail uses at Altira."