Not lovin’ it – 24/7 McDonald’s plan denied again
A second proposal to extend opening hours for a McDonald’s to operate 24/7 has been rejected by the council, but there could be a legal challenge.
West Northamptonshire Council heard an application to change the premises license of the restaurant on Kettering Road in Northampton, which is currently open from 6am GMT until midnight.
McDonald’s lawyer Sarah Clover told the UK-controlled Reform council’s licensing sub-committee that “the idea that this would lead to a mass influx of visitors… is not the reality of the situation”.
But locals said they were concerned that staying open 24 hours would mean more cooking smells, car horns and customers “yelling and screaming”.
Local Democracy Reporting Service He said the restaurant, which opened in 2019, had previously tried to extend its operating hours but was unsuccessful.
Speaking at the licensing meeting, local resident Andrew Beck told members one of the key concerns was noise from vehicles during the night.
He said: “How do you prevent engines, door slams, speeding or drive-through queues from disrupting residents? The applicant has not proposed a single measure that would reduce these external impacts.”
“This site is in a residential area, not a motorway service station.”
Another resident said he witnessed rats in the area, including digging into his own yard.
appeal to court
Perry Akhtar, owner of the Kettering Road franchise and several other 24/7 McDonald’s in the area, said the increased hours would help business sustainability, allow for better shift patterns and create 20 jobs.
Clover told members that based on experiences at other 24-hour stores, they expect the restaurant to serve about 35 extra customers throughout the night.
The committee’s earlier rejection of the same application in January was the subject of an appeal to Northampton Magistrates’ Court.
A council spokesman added: “We cannot comment on ongoing legal proceedings or provide any further details. “At this stage, no date has been set for a full appeal hearing.
“A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May, during which the court will confirm the appeal hearing date and provide any necessary instructions for the next steps in the process.”
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