McDonald's to open 24/7

The Newbury Retail Park outlet has been given permission to open around the clock for drive-thru sales

NEWBURY Retail Park will soon be home to a McDonald's restaurant open 24/7.

Yesterday (Wednesday), West Berkshire councillors on the licensing sub-committee granted permission to vary an existing licence to allow McDonald's to open between 11pm and 5am for drive-thru sales from Sundays to Thursdays, despite objections from Greenham Parish Council over the prevention of crime and disorder, the prevention of public nuisance and concerns over policing of the site.

The outlet already had permission to open the drive-thru around the clock on Fridays and Saturdays, dating from 2009, although together with the existing opening hours of the restaurant, the latest plans would make it operational 24/7.

Speaking at a licensing hearing in Newbury yesterday, parish councillor Alan Agutter, who lives opposite the retail park, said McDonald's had done little to help police and the local community tackle problems with anti-social behaviour and drug taking in the area, adding that the long-standing problem of ‘boy racers' congregating in the area also still existed.

However, the business manager for the restaurant, Tony Manwani, said McDonald's had CCTV cameras on site and that restaurant staff conducted regular litter patrols of the area, while he said he had had no contact from police on the issue of boy racers.

Speaking after the hearing, Mr Agutter said he was disappointed by the decision, although he said it had at least brought to light the council's concerns.