Restaurant faces 24-hour bid fight

McDonald's is facing a fight to open one of its Dudley restaurants around the clock after objections from neighbours and an environmental health chief.

Ashnet 2000 Ltd, owners of McDonald's, Kent Street, Upper Gornal, wants to open the restaurant 24-hours a day seven-days a week.

If approved it will mean the current hours of 5.30am to 11pm would be pushed to 24-hour opening all week.

But the move has attracted criticism from Mr David Parkes, senior environmental health officer at Dudley Council.

In a letter to the council's licensing committee, which will make its final decision at a meeting on Tuesday April 1, Mr Parkes said: "The restaurant is in close proximity to residential premises in Kent Street and Pale Street.

"Complaints about the restaurant include noise and odour nuisance problems and have been received from local residents on a regular basis. One complaint from a nearby resident alleged cooking odours from the restaurant was causing nuisance at their property.

"The application seeks to considerably increase the opening hours of the restaurant with little in the way of controls being put forward in order to prevent the potential for increase nuisance issues. In light of this and the numerous complaints I would raise an objection."

Two letters from residents have also been submitted. Ashnet 2000 Ltd has promised to maintain a CCTV system and said it would not hold childrens' parties during the extended hours.

It has also pointed out it does not sell alcohol and will maintain the cleanliness of a footpath.The final decision will be madeon April 1.

It is not the first time McDonald's in Kent Street has attracted controversy in the community. Last year its owners were ordered to remove a cashpoint machine installed outside the restaurant over fears it could encourage robberies.

Also before members at next week's meeting will be an application from Chicago Rock Cafe, High Street, Stourbridge. The bar seeks a permit for three amusement machines.