Objections over bid to extend McDonald’s opening hours
PLANS to extend the opening hours of the McDonald’s restaurant in Warwick Way, Loughborough, has led to objections by residents over noise and antisocial behaviour.
The restaurant has submitted an application to change its opening hours from 6am to midnight, to 5am to 2am the following morning.
However nearby residents in Durham Road have objected with one saying: “There is already a lot of noise from cars revving engines, doors slamming and loud music being played plus the sound of voices from the ordering stations. “This gets worse in the summer months, longer hours will just add to this. This noise can also be heard over the TV.
“Also if they get the 5am opening will we get the noise one hour earlier if they start rolling out the cages and folding them down for collection with the extra deliveries this will generate as they do now at 6am.
“Since the opening of McDonald’s I have not been able to have my windows open mainly at night due to the noise yet I can still be woken by the noise with the windows shut. It’s that bad and will only get worse as the late night drinkers visit.
“During the hot summer this makes it difficult to sleep due to heat, if I open the window the noise will disturb my sleep I still tend to have to leave my upstairs window closed.
“During the day as the smell of burnt oil/food coming from McDonald’s at times, which can be very nauseating.
“The longer hours will add to the amount of litter left which is bad at the best of times.
“McDonald’s is surrounded by residential properties and as such owners should be allowed to enjoy their property especially at night as the majority of other borough residents do.”
Another Durham Road resident wrote: “We already find the ordering station a constant problem as we can hear every order being placed and have placed our frustrations to the borough council!
“We cannot keep our windows open because of this. I have noticed that late evening there is hardly any interest certainly not enough to understand why they have asked to extend their hours and even if there was I feel that it’s unfair on the residents that live around this restaurant.”
Charnwood Borough Council’s environmental health department has also commented on the proposal saying that consideration had previously been given in 2018 that there be additional acoustic fencing on the site to try and help cut down any noise problems.
The department has recommended that if the plan is passed, then a noise management scheme should be included as part of the conditions for approval.
A report by environmental health officer, Andy McParland states: “I confirm that the existing use has generated reports of nuisance being caused to nearby residents arising from late night noise from vehicles (including car horns) using the car park and drive through facility.
“Excessive noise from the extract ventilation system, including operation outside conditioned hours of use. Excessive noise from the drive through ordering intercom system.
“Our records also indicate that an in-house investigation into noise disturbance arising from the site led to consideration in January 2018, being given to the provision of additional acoustic fencing. I have no record of this being undertaken.
“Given the proposal is likely to extend these issues into increasingly noise sensitive hours of the day, I recommend the following condition be applied to any consent: Use shall be in accordance with a detailed noise management scheme previously agreed in writing by the local planning authority.”