Burgers round the clock? McDonald’s plans controversial 24-hour opening

City Road McDonald’s is surrounded by residential buildings.

Fast-food chain McDonald’s wants to serve burgers round the clock at its branch in Old Street.

The restaurant which is located off City Road is currently open from 5am until 2am everyday, but has applied to Hackney Council to extend its opening time to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Matthew Palmer-Willis, 32, whose flat on Buxton Court estate overlooks the McDonald’s strongly opposes to the plans.

Palmer-Willis told the Citizen that with the current opening times, local residents only have “three hours of rest” from the noise and disturbance caused by late night diners.

“Placing a junk food restaurant so close to a residential area and opening it 24 hours is a cynical attempt to lure the neighbours in as well as bring in taxis and other drivers off City Road and into the residential area,” he said.

In 2012 the City Road McDonald’s received permission to open until 2am Monday to Sunday.

Planning documents show two letters of objection from residents but Palmer-Willis claimed that at the time 250 people on the estate also signed a petition against the later opening times.

Islington Borough Council also objected to the 2012 application, arguing that residents along Wharf Road would be impacted by late night noise, traffic and an increase in anti-social behaviour.

Palmer-Willis said he was concerned that this time around not all the residents who will be affected by the 24-hour opening had been informed, and claimed that Islington residents had only been notified of McDonald’s application last week.

Job creation

But local McDonald’s franchisee, Amir Atefi said the later hours would provide 25 new jobs for local people and that the restaurant “valued the community” of Old Street.

Atefi said: “If successful, extending the opening hours of our City Road restaurant would create 25 additional jobs locally, and allow us to provide a convenient choice for our customers who are increasingly living outside of the nine-to-five routine.

Mr Atefi said the team at the City Road branch often meet with local police to minimise anti-social behaviour and complete at least two litter patrols a day.

“We value the community in which we operate and my main priority is to be a good and responsible neighbour. Whatever our opening hours, we will continue to work closely with any member of the community who has concerns about the impact of our restaurant,” he added.

An Islington Council spokeswoman said: “Hackney Council has consulted us on this application, and we are currently considering our response.  However, we would be opposed to any extension of the opening hours where this would have a negative impact on the quality of life of neighbouring residents.”

Hackney Council said: “The consultation closes on 22 April, anyone who would like to comment on the proposals will still be able to do so until a decision is made by Hackney’s Planning Service at a later date.

“Hackney Council have been consulting about the proposals by displaying a notice on-site and in Hackney Today, sending consultation letters to the nearest surrounding neighbours located within the Borough and consulting the London Borough of Islington.”