Posh London town fears being overrun by 'hungry' late night KFC customers

Following news that a KFC franchise partner has requested a late operating licence for its Richmond branch, there has been a furious backlash from a number of local residents.

One even said “the concern is that people get their refreshments from KFC and toddle off down for a few minutes and come to the green.”

Fearing the posh leafy suburb will be overrun by late night friend chicken afficionados if it stayed open till 2am on weekends, residents have expressed fears that Richmond Green could be taken over with noise disturbances and litter louts.

The fast-food restaurant closes at 11pm every night and would be a takeaway only after these hours.

At the local Council’s licencing hearing earlier this month, local resident Peter Willan and member of the Friends of Richmond Green (FORG) group, said: “I would say that we are very concerned at the disturbance.

“We believe there is a risk we will get disturbance in and around the town from these extra hours.”

He added: “From the reports that have been received over the last few years, it’s fully evidenced that there are problems and anti-social behaviour on the green.”

Ginny Curry, a member of the Richmond Society, said: “Staying open early in the morning, making noise and [such] behaviour, it’s like a magnet, and when you set this magnet off, it’s just like taking a brick out from a dam.

“There will be a little trickle and eventually you may be overwhelmed.”

Conservative councillor Rita Palmer said: “If you’ve got a couple of guys who’ve gone in there, are hungry and want something to eat, they buy a bucket each of KFC […] where do you think they are likely to go and take their refreshment?”

She added: “The concern is not just litter […] but it’s this anti-social behaviour, the noise disturbance round the green, it’s residential.

“The concern is that people get their refreshments from KFC and toddle off down for a few minutes and come to the green.

“They’ve got benches, they can sit on the grass if it’s a summer’s evening evening at two o’clock in the morning. It could be very nice and warm and dry and therefore the concern is that they could make a disturbance.”