Wendy’s in Camden Town

THE letter came from an office in the mid-west city American state of Ohio, 3,865 miles from the streets of Camden Town.

And the man who penned it, an executive at the Wendy’s burger chain called Mr Atkins, said he would ensure that the Camden Town branch of the global fried beef pattie purveyor was well policed and would not cause any anti-social behaviour – if the Town Hall gave them a licence to serve food late into the night.

William Miller, who lives in Camden Town and chairs the Camden Town Safer Neighbour­hoods Panel, received the missive last year from across the Atlantic after he and others objected to the burger restaurant, on the corner of Parkway and Camden High Street, flipping beef patties in the early hours.

Now Mr Miller and members of an umbrella group representing Camden Town residents are objecting to a new application from the chain, which hopes to be allowed to serve food until 5am.

Mr Miller, son of opera director and writer Sir Jonathan Miller, told the New Journal: “Last year, when Wendy’s first made an application for a late-night licence and everyone from the residents to the police objected, I had a personal email from a Mr Atkins from Wendy’s head office in Ohio in the US.

“From the comfort of his office in Dublin, Ohio, he wanted to assure me that Wendy’s took our concerns very seriously and listed the measures they would take to mitigate the impact of opening one of their London branches through the night.

“My response was how on earth would someone in Ohio know about the problems we have in Camden Town, where we have to contend with high levels of drug dealing and anti-social behaviour, which their restaurants would have no ability to control and would further stretch an already overstretched police force?”

He said a bid by Wendy’s to stay open until 5am for “late night-refreshment” would encourage revellers to hang around the streets after pubs and clubs close.

He added: “The Met’s town centre team are more than over­stretched when it comes to policing the late-night economy in Camden Town. Their priority is to limit the impact anti-social behaviour has on the area after the bars and clubs close and to ensure the safety of both visitors and residents around Camden Town in these hours.

“These larger takeaway restaurants in the area have always been a challenge for the police as they encourage visitors to remain in the area well beyond closing time which creates a honey pot for drug dealing and in turn anti-social behaviour.

“The police simply do not have the resources, and whatever mitigating measures these restaurants promise to put in place are never enough.

“We of course want to support the night economy but not at the expense of a further decline in the state of Camden Town.

“The fact that Mr Atkins thinks he can manage the problem from Ohio is the very reason Wendy’s and other large takeaway restaurants should be refused late-night licences.”

In the application, Wendy’s say they will have a sign asking customers to keep the noise to a minimum, and delivery drivers will be asked to wait inside for orders.

They add they would monitor the need for door staff and if the need arises will employ two security to manage the restaurant.

They also say staff will be given a litter-picking map to help manage any mess.

A Wendy’s spokesperson said: “We respect the concerns raised by local residents. Our Camden restaurant is locally managed, and we work closely with the council and police to operate responsibly and help ensure we’re a positive presence in the community.”