‘New McDonald’s will help stop crashes on motorway’

Service station bosses claim approved plans for a new McDonald’s drive-thru will help slash smashes on one of Kent’s busiest motorways. Stop 24 owners Channel Ports state an all-night fast food restaurant at the M20’s junction 11 will “encourage drivers to take regular breaks” and “reduce potential risks for accidents”. A major thoroughfare for holidaymakers and freight, the route has recently seen a string of high-profile crashes, including the death of a Smart car driver in his 20s .

In planning papers launched to Folkestone and Hythe District Council, Channel bosses say: “Encouraging drivers to take regular breaks is the Government’s primary objective for service stations, but if a facility doesn’t meet modern consumer expectations, they are unlikely to stop – increasing the potential for accidents. “The improvements will make Folkestone Services a more attractive stopping point for M20 users. “This will support the Government’s primary objective of encouraging drivers to take regular breaks and will therefore reduce the potential risk for accidents to take place on the network.



“There is therefore a wider public safety justification for the improvements proposed.” The M20 has seen multiple serious crashes this year alone. A man in his 20s died when his Smart car was involved in an accident on the coastbound carriageway near Junction 1 at Swanley on October 16.

The air ambulance was called to a serious multi-vehicle crash coastbound between Junction 5 for Aylesford and Junction 6 for Medway and Maidstone on August 9. Motorists faced gridlock London-bound between Junction 9 for Ashford and Junction 8 for Leeds Castle following a two-vehicle crash and oil spillage on the first day of Operation Brock in May. Channel’s £2m overhaul, approved by district council planning bosses last week, will see Roadchef run the main Stop 24 Folkestone Services building, and roll out a Costa, EV chargers, new parking spaces and an extension.

The firm, which has run the Truck Stop since 2011 but bought the services in 2022, submitted the proposals in April. It says the move – bringing the district’s total number of McDonald’s restaurants to four - will create 100 jobs, boosting the workforce to about 190. The burger giant recently put in a bid to open 24 hours a day, which the current occupants, Subway, KFC and Chopstix, currently do not do.

Channel argued in planning papers it needed to expand the site to meet a hike in demand. “This will improve facilities at existing operational services, which are urgently required in order to provide an expanded and improved rest and refreshment offer. “Importantly, the works will secure Roadchef as an anchor tenant, and attract the multiples required, to ensure that the facility continues to fulfil its role for travellers on the strategic road network of the M20.

“The works outlined are considered essential, and are in part, a consequence of daily consumer demand increasing dramatically over the last 20 years. “It will generate significant investment by Channel Ports amounting to £2 million.” When plans were first announced, KentOnline spoke to visitors at the rest stop who questioned the need for a big-name brand.

Deal resident Alasdair Goulden said: “I can’t see the point in adding a McDonald’s and Costa to this location. “It’s so close to Dover; realistically, who is going to stop here, whether they're leaving or heading to the port?”.