Kingswinford McDonalds granted 24 hour opening

McDonald's on Dudley Road in Kingswinford currently closes at 1am but the restaurant has been granted permission to extend its opening hours around the clock.

Dudley Council's licensing committee approved a proposal to extend the serving hours despite residents complaining that anti social behaviour caused by late night diners has brought intimidation, litter and vandalism to their doorsteps.

A review of the all night licence will be heard in six months though.

On granting the licence, chair of the committee, Councillor Hilary Bills said: "We have taken a long time to decide and have taken the residents' complaints very seriously, which is why we have placed a six month review on granting this change.

"In future, residents must keep a log of any incidents and contact both McDonalds and the relevant authorities with any problems."

An application to open until 5am was rejected in 2008 but in June 2013 the restaurant was permitted to open until 1am.

Mr Trevor Hall, Tim Hall and Dean Rock, residents living on Dudley Road objected and Mr Rock, who lives closest to the restaurant said: "I already have trouble with drivers parking in front of my house, with music blaring. It is a nightmare. I have suffered verbal abuse from youngsters and have found milkshakes thrown up my fence. I constantly find sauce pots and wrappers in my garden and anti social behaviour has included my family being threatened by gangs of kids who have parked up to eat their McDonalds."

Their concerns were backed by public protection manager, Dolores Nellony, who said: "We don't think the site is suitable for 24 hour opening. The residents have a right not to be disturbed during the night and opening during these sensitive hour will encourage more vehicles and create a noise nuisance."

The restaurant will have to abide by a series of conditions during the overnight hours including closure of the rear carpark to prevent noise problems to guests staying at the Premier Inn hotel next door.

The expansion of opening hours will see up to 15 new full and part time jobs created and barrister Naomi Gillchrist representing McDonald's said no one had raised any issues about anti social behaviour with the firm.

She said: "There has not been a single complaint since September 2012 but McDonalds is comitted to working with neighbours and if McDonalds is told of a problem it will work closely with those involved to resolve it."

The fast food chain also has plans to revamp two other Black Country branches.

Brickhouse Lane South in Tipton and Park Road in Halesowen are part of an investment project which include plans to re-configure the drive-thrus at both branches. It would see the creation of two side by side lanes for the ordering points, which bosses say would reduce waiting times for customers and help to cut noise and congestion.

Around 10 positions are expected to be created at Tipton with a further five at Halesowen. Bosses have said they are looking at whether they can also upgrade the drive-thru at the Oldbury branch, but no definite decision has been made.