McDonald’s

BURGER chain McDonald’s have triggered objections by asking for permission to keep its Kentish Town Road branch open for 24 hours a day.

The fast-food giant, has asked the council to confirm there are no legal reasons barring it from an around-the-clock operation.

Currently, the branch closes at 1am and then re-opens at 5am.

McDonald’s say historic planning permissions, granted in 1978 when it first opened, and then in 1985, when the first floor was converted from offices into a dining area do not have any restrictions on opening times – and so they should be allowed to serve through the night.

McDonald’s claims neither of the decision notices for the two permissions includes any conditions restricting opening hours.

But the Kentish Town Neighbourhood Forum said the original planning permissions did not foresee the rise of the food bike delivery industry.

Vice-chair Dee Searle told the New Journal: “The permissions did not envision the premises operating as a 24-hour restaurant where the later hours were mainly takeaway and delivery, which is a relatively recent phenomenon.”

The Forum added that it might be lawful to trade for 24 hours but early hours customers should be required to eat in during the night to avoid disruption.

Ms Searle said: “McDonald’s already creates significant local nuisance from the numbers of delivery drivers. The noise nuisance would be substantially increased to the detriment of the neighbourhood. “This should be rejected because it is enabling a change of use class by the back door.”