Not everyone is happy with the possible arrival of a KFC restaurant in Hoogeveen. The fast food company hopes to open a branch along the Schutstraat near the entrance and exit of the A28. Local residents fear an increase in waste, loitering and traffic nuisance.
On Wednesday evening, the municipality of Hoogeveen, together with developer Ruval Real Estate, presented a first impression of the restaurant. Both parties are investigating whether a KFC along Schutstraat is possible. That investigation is still ongoing. The neighborhood was informed about the plans in the village hall ‘t Oor.
According to local residents, the part of Schutstraat where the restaurant is to be located is extremely busy in terms of traffic. Not just because of the on- and off-ramps of the A28. “It may be one of the busiest places in Hoogeveen, also because of the intersection with Carstenstraat and Griendtsveenweg,” says resident Arjan Prijs, who was present at the meeting.
“It is very dangerous. If a KFC is added, traffic will only increase and that can cause problems,” he and other residents think.
There are concerns about the safety of cyclists. A cycle path runs along the Schutstraat. “Cyclists from the Trasselt, de Weide and Erflanden neighborhoods use that path to go to the center of Hoogeveen. When the KFC comes, motorists will have to cross the cycle path. How safely will that be possible,” he wonders.
But those are not the only concerns that local residents have. They also fear nuisance from youth and litter. “The McDonalds across the street also has to pick up a lot of waste. They do their best, but there is still some left behind. With the arrival of a KFC, that may increase,” says a resident of the nearby Moluccan neighborhood.
“The McDonalds is open until late. The youth also hang around there and sometimes cause a nuisance,” the resident continues. “Then they play music through their speakers. Who’s to say something like that won’t happen at a future KFC?” A number of residents indicate that they are not against the arrival of a KFC in Hoogeveen, but they would rather see the restaurant located on an industrial estate.
“There are also people who cannot find it because of public health,” the resident continues. The preliminary plans call for a noise wall of three meters high. Price thinks that this is of no use to local residents. “The sound just passes over it. Then you have the view, what will people in the apartment on Pottingastraat be looking forward to?”