MCDONALD'S is facing objections to its plan for round the clock sales from its new Dorset outlet.
A licensing meeting will hear next Thursday from more than 20 residents who claim the opening hours for the Souter Way restaurant is likely to lead to unnecessary noise, litter and anti-social behaviour.
McDonald's has asked for a new premises licence which will allow late-night indoor refreshment between 11pm and 5am.
Said one objector: “Weymouth is a small town without a significant night time culture. There is absolutely no need to create one. If this restaurant opens through the night, it will draw residents from all across Weymouth and probably further afield.”
Concerns were also raised about extra traffic in the area although the committee say this is a planning matter, not licensing.
One of the objectors says he moved to Weymouth to get away from a late night McDonald's restaurant elsewhere: “Opening 24 hours would not be appropriate as it will increase noise and traffic at unsociable hours and also increase cars and youngsters to gather until the early hours.”
Said another letter to the licensing panel: “I am very concerned that this will have a negative impact on the surrounding area resulting in attracting anti-social behaviour, after pubs closing and the likely increase of litter.
"We already have problems with late night revellers driving their cars erratically around the Park and Ride, causing us some distress which has been reported to the police in the past but it still goes on.
"I really feel that it can only make matters worse. This is normally a quiet area at night. I don’t think we need McDonald’s to be open 24 hours, seven days a week.”
A Hetherly Road resident complained about not being notified of the application, adding: “Please refuse this, you will turn living here into a nightmare for my family and I.”
Said another: “We already have problems with 'boy racers' driving around Sainsbury's car park at night… If a 24 hour Mcdonald's was approved here this would provide a destination for noise, unsociable behaviour and excess litter in the area. …McDonald's is like a nightclub for teenagers, I worry about the safety of my property backing on to this development, kids messing around in this area and then coming into my garden is a real concern.”
Local councillors David Gray and Pete Barrow has raised similar concerns to neighbours in their submissions to the licensing panel.
Both say they fear for the peace of residents in Hetherly Road and St Andrew's Avenue and believe the late opening could add to anti social behaviour already experienced at the Park and Ride. They also question the need for another 24-hour McDonald's with one already open around the clock ten minutes away at the Jubilee Retail Park.
McDonald's say their new premises will be managed, as their other 24-hour businesses are, the area covered by CCTV and staff fully trained to deal with any potential problems, the business fully complying with all licensing conditions and with an international reputation for operating in a range of locations in a responsible way.
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