Cheltenham McDonald’s bid sparks fears loitering, crime and traffic
The team behind plans to open a new McDonald's restaurant on Gloucester Road in Cheltenham to replace TGI Friday’s looks like it will face a rough ride, with opposition mounting to the scheme.
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Plans for McDonald’s to open its third Cheltenham restaurant until midnight have sparked dozens of objections amid fears it will lead to increased “traffic, loitering and crime”.
The American fast food chain has plans to open up shop at the site of the former TGI Friday’s restaurant at 374 Gloucester Road next to the Premier Inn.
The golden arches are already a feature at two other locations in Cheltenham. There is a town centre restaurant in the High Street and an out-of-town drive-through off Tewkesbury Road at the Kingsditch Retail Park.
McDonald’s has applied to Cheltenham Borough Council for permission to provide food and drink from 11pm to midnight.
The premises licence application, which suggests the restaurant would open from 6am until midnight every day of the week, is due before licensing chiefs next week.
County Councillor David Willingham (LD, St Marks and St Peters), the current mayor of Cheltenham, is among the 25 people who have objected to the scheme.
He has called into question the suitability of the plans due to a lack of clarity.
“Many residents have expressed concern about the applicant’s activities causing an increase in crime and disorder, and particularly anti-social behaviour,” he said,
“However, since this is a new application and the applicant is not currently trading, there can be no direct evidence relating to this location.
“This presents an evidential challenge to objectors. However, media headlines such as ‘ Peterhead McDonald’s bans under-18s without adults after 6pm amid rise in anti-social incidents’ are indicative of potential issues.
“For a multinational company with a nationwide presence, and in light of the evidential threshold being balance of probability, it is reasonable to extrapolate how incidents at other premises elsewhere in the country, can adduce the likelihood of issues at this location.”
Several of the objectors have raised concerns about the potential impact the fast food restaurant could have on children.
However, officers say it is unlikely that they would be affected by the access to fast food as the application is for the late night refreshment from 11pm to midnight.
“This is a residential area with homes and children very close by,” a Gloucester Road resident said.
“TGI was shut by about 10pm. Even the Macdonalds on the High Street shuts at 11pm. The Macdonalds in the centre of Gloucester shuts at 11pm.
“There is no reason that this location is more suitable for late night operations than those.
“The high numbers of people coming and going will inevitably considerably contribute to traffic noise, noise of groups of people and disturbance to residents.”
Another objector said fast-food outlets that operate late into the night, lead to increased noise levels from customers.
“Idling cars with loud music playing and delivery vehicles, which can disturb residents, particularly during the summer when windows are open through the night,” they said.
“Additionally, there is evidence of loitering and crime increasing around McDonald’s restaurants.”
McDonald’s representatives said they believe their systems are robust and are keen to work with the police to prevent crime and disorder and will have CCTV on site.
They also said they do not anticipate that unaccompanied children will use the restaurant between 11pm and midnight.
“We do however take their safety extremely seriously and will continue to employ the same practices to ensure that they are protected from harm at all times when visiting the restaurant,” they said.
“This restaurant understands that in extending our opening hours we have a duty to the local community and that we continue to protect our staff and customers from danger and harm.
“We believe that the systems we have in place are robust, thorough. It should be noted that no McDonald’s restaurant within the United Kingdom serves alcohol and further none of our drinks or food are served to customers in glass receptacles.
“This restaurant is keen to work in partnership with the local police service to prevent crime and disorder. At all stores where CCTV is in operation appropriate signage reflecting this information is displayed.
“The CCTV system is regularly serviced by qualified maintenance technicians. Access to the CCTV system will be provided to police officers at their request where reasonable.”
The licensing sub-committee will consider the proposals at their meeting on May 27.
By Carmelo Garcia, local democracy reporter for Gloucestershire. carmelo.garcia@reachplc.com