Wendy’s in Camden Town

A GLOBAL burger chain has frustrated its neighbours by asking for permission to keep on serving until the early hours.

Wendy’s grabbed a prime location opposite Camden Town underground station when it took on a former bank building at the foot of Parkway three years ago.

And now licensing chiefs must decide tonight (Thursday) whether the cookers can stay on until 4am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights – an arrangement which would come close to matching the weekend 24-hour opening enjoyed by McDonald’s in Camden High Street.

The proposal has horrified people living in nearby flats and surrounding streets, and police have suggested it shouldn’t be open later than midnight with delivery-only options after that.

Police licensing officer PC Juan Gomez said: “As midnight approaches, Camden Town sees footfall from people making their way home from the nearby public houses.

“Late-night refreshment venues operating into the earlier hours can attract people from different pubs and clubs and at times we unfortunately have to respond to flashpoints and fighting between customers and offences against staff.”

He added: “Food does not assist with soaking up the alcohol consumed or lower intoxication levels until much later. At the time the person is intoxicated it simply keeps them on the street for longer where there is more chance they will be taken advantage of or subjected to crime.

“Late at night into the early hours of the morning, Camden Town is the crime hotspot across both Islington and Camden boroughs.”

His comments are in a pack of objections that a panel of licensers will digest before a final decision.

Labour ward councillor Richard Cotton said: “The terminal hour of 4am is more appropriate to a refreshment business at an airport than in a residential area and opening so late is bound to cause problems.”

Another opponent living nearby added: “Parkway is now dangerous to walk down, littered with broken glass and rubbish and many poor animals (dogs) slice their paws open walking to the park to get their daily exercise.

“People have also been peeing and pooing on Parkway in the doorways of homes and businesses and off it on roads like Arlington Road which will increase further.”

Wendy’s was launched by Dave Thomas, a former KFC franchisee, in Ohio in 1969, and has grown to become the third biggest burger operator in the world behind the golden arches and Burger King.

Named after his daughter’s nickname, Wendy’s tried to differentiate itself with square-shaped patties and boasts of never frozen beef.

The UK wasn’t exactly bowled over with Wendy’s first attempt to crack the British market in the 1980s, which ended in a quiet retreat after a few years.

But it has returned over the past five years with a bigger wave of branches, including Camden Town.

The company said in its application for late opening: “Our push-pull restaurant doors self close, and we try to encourage our customers to be considerate to our neighbours and to limit noise both when ordering their food and on leaving the local area.

“Notices shall be prominently displayed at each exit from the premises asking customers to be considerate to neigh­bours when leaving.

“Patrols of the area outside the premises during the use of the licence and any litter attributable to the premises cleared.”

Tonight’s verdict is due some time after 7pm.