McDonald’s on Central London’s Victoria Street has applied for a 24-hour licence but objectors fear it could lead to more crime and disorder.
The busy takeaway currently runs from 5am to 2am on weekends and until midnight on weekdays. To quell the concerns of objectors, McDonald’s proposed boosting litter patrols and conducting six-monthly meets with residents and councillors, according to an application before Westminster City Council.
It also promised to use “reasonable endeavours” to stop delivery drivers occupying nearby residential streets or congregating outside the store. Other conditions being proposed include staff being equipped with body-worn cameras and mobile panic buttons as well as proactive staff patrols to stop noisy or rowdy antisocial behaviour.
Employees would receive comprehensive safety training and conduct regular litter patrols within a 100-metre radius of the premises. Security guards will continue to patrol the site, the chain said.
The application hasn’t gone down well with locals and the police. The Met Police said it would lead to more crime and disorder while the council’s Environmental Health team fear it could exacerbate problems with street drinkers and rough sleepers in the area.
One objector said the premises attracts rough sleepers who use the store as a toilet, generates litter and brings drug dealers into the area. They wrote: “Keeping this facility open longer hours will only exacerbate the likelihood of this happening.
“In addition, many residents are intimidated by the presence of the rough sleepers/drug dealers and often have to find circuitous routes home to avoid the premises even though it is directly close to their homes.”
Another said the location was a “magnet” for antisocial behaviour while a third said the area was becoming “more and more unsafe”. They wrote: “This evening this included 3 males who were obviously under the influence and walking with a large Rottweiler.
“I am feeling more and more unsafe as a result despite having lived here for over 50 years.”
A fourth said homeless people “urinate and defecate” on the street outside and that employees “can’t do much about it”.
One withdrew their objection after speaking with McDonald’s. They wrote: “There are huge problems in the area with homelessness and drug dealing and using but these are not a consequence of McDonald’s.”
They added: “I feel that keeping McDonald’s open, including the toilets, would be a positive contribution to the Cathedral Piazza. It will be even better when the cladding around McDonald’s is removed and there is a lighted building on the piazza through the night.”
A consultant hired by McDonald’s to carry out late-night observations said they did not see any conduct which supported objectors’ concerns. The consultant visited the premises in April and again in May when the restaurant stayed open until 5am under a Temporary Event Notice following the FA Cup final.
They said problems that arise with delivery drivers at other locations did not materialise on Victoria Street due to the wide footpath outside and street parking available outside.
They wrote: “Whilst conducting these observations I considered if I could be happy to live in the area myself, should the current application be granted. From what I saw and heard during the period that the Temporary Event Notices were in place no negative impact on the local residential occupants were observed. I would have no concerns residing in this area should the application be granted.”
Westminster City Council’s Licensing Committee will consider the application at a meeting on Thursday (July 24).
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