I’ve lived in the centre of Winchester now for about a year. In that time, I’ve learnt quite a lot of about city centre living, and decided a long time ago that I would make the most of being just a few moments away from pretty much everything I could possibly want.

Yet for all of Winchester’s charms, we do have a distinct lack of variety when it comes to food. If you’re a particular fan of afternoon tea or morning coffee, you have an amazing amount of opportunities open to you. Those persuaded by Baguettes and the continental Panini are spoilt for choice. French, Italian and Indian cuisines are a plenty but we’re not exactly blessed by fast food.

Things are set to change though, as planning notices have gone up proclaiming the colonel will be arriving soon. For years we have been fairly restricted when it comes to fast food choice, indeed sometimes laughed at by outsiders due to our small range of nationally branded fast food outlets, but KFC is on the horizon for our dear cathedral city.

The old Threshers store on Upper Brook Street will soon be converted into making ‘bucket food’ available to the masses of central Hampshire, providing legs, wings and coleslaw to a city previously starved of chaotic calorie choices.

Yet I think all this chicken will make a fair few people peck up and start squarking about the sort of people such an outlet will attract. Those of a hooded nature already gather in the evenings around the lights of the Pizza Parlour next door (bar one) to the proposed site, and I’m not sure that KFC would make it any better.

Finding a site right next to a car park, next to a major night club and on a route close to a lot of people’s commutes is a genius move, but I just can’t see it being a positive step for a city that prides itself on independent retail and a unique shopping experience.

But maybe I’m wrong to think food should come from a plate not a bucket, and the king will come to accept the neon lights of the colonel are a change for the better.