PEOPLE in Blackfen hope to put Bexley councillors on the spot tonight (Wednesday) over plans to build a fast food drive-thru restaurant in Blackfen.

Bexley Council's only remaining Liberal Democrat councillor Nick O'Hare will be pressing the ruling Labour group to say whether the council intends to sell the public toilets.

The toilets are a vital part of the redevelopment site for the proposed McDonald's, in Westwood Lane, Blackfen.

The drive-thru was given planning permission despite huge opposition from residents and traders in Blackfen and from many councillors.

Opponents of the plan say the restaurant will create serious traffic problems and increase the existing youth disorder problems in the area.

But without Bexley councillors agreeing to sell the toilets to McDonald's, the project can still not go ahead.

Now traders and residents are demanding an assurance from Bexley Council that the toilets will not be sold to the fast food group.

They already have hundreds of names on a petition against the closure of the toilets, which they say are very well used.

The toilets are not currently on the council's list for disposable assets and any decision to put the Blackfen toilets up for sale would have to be made by the Cabinet.

July 16, 2002 12:30