New move for cash outlet

Fast food giant McDonalds has launched a bid to put a new cash machine outside a branch in the Black Country – despite being ordered to remove the original model.

The burger chain lost a battle over a previous cash machine at the site in Upper Gornal after residents claimed it caused chaos.

Motorists had been blocking traffic along Kent Street while they got out to use the cashpoint, installed late in 2005 without planning permission. The machine was recently removed after council officers issued an enforcement notice.

An appeal lodged by applicants Bank Machine Ltd was turned down.

A retrospective planning application has also been refused by members of Dudley council's development control committee who said it could cause problems on the road and create a noise nuisance for nearby residents.

But now planning officials say changes to the design and operation of the ATM machine mean it is more acceptable and have recommended that it should be reinstalled – despite the traffic concerns of a resident living in nearby Pale Street.

The developers behind the project say that the new ATM would be grey rather than the bright green of the previous machine so it would be more in keeping with the area.

The ATM would also only be available for use during the restaurant opening hours to prevent anti-social noise during the early hours of the night, meaning residents could not withdraw cash before 7.30am or after 11.30pm seven days a week.

Lighting could also be installed on top of nearby bollards to help improve security in the dark.

Members of Dudley Council's development control committee meet next Monday to decide whether to approve the plans to reinstall the machine.

Planning officers have given their backing but the councillors will have the final say on whether the project will get the go ahead.