Backdown on all-day fast food plans

Fast food giant McDonald’s has backed down on plans to open one of its Black Country restaurants round-the-clock.

Ashnet 2000 Ltd, owners of the outlet in Kent Street, Upper Gornal, had applied to introduce 24-hour opening.

But the company has now amended the proposals. The restaurant will open until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays and midnight during the rest of the week, if the changes are approved by Dudley Council. Food is currently served until 11pm, seven days a week.

The 24-hour opening proposals had attracted criticism from residents.

David Parkes, senior environmental health officer at the council, outlined a number of objections to the original application to the licensing committee.

He said: “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 present the potential for increase nuisance issues.

“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.”

McDonald’s declined to explain why it had dropped plans for 24-hour opening.

In a statement it said: “By opening for longer, we hope that we will continue to provide a good service to our existing customers and also to new customers providing refreshments to police officers, firefighters, taxi drivers and all of those workers who keep the local area going throughout the night.”

Franchisee Diane Ash, who owns and runs the restaurant, added: “As a responsible local businesswoman both myself and my staff recognise we need to be a good neighbour 24 hours a day, irrespective of when we are open.”