Residents battle against plans for 24-hour McDonald’s

Dozens of residents are fighting a proposed 24/7 McDonald’s drive-thru just north of Bristol, branding it a “disaster in the making” and a “monstrous disturbance”.

A total of 37 neighbours have objected to a licensing application to serve hot food through the night at the outlet set to open at Willow Brook Centre, Bradley Stoke, on September 14.

They have bombarded South Gloucestershire Council with concerns about noise, litter, smells and antisocial behaviour and say the fast-food restaurant is too close to homes to be allowed to trade around the clock.

It marks the latest chapter in a fraught history to build the pair of drive-thrus, which will be next to a 24-hour Starbucks.

The local authority originally refused planning permission in 2019 but this was overturned by a government inspector on appeal the following year.

Willow Brook centre in Bradley Stoke – image – Google Maps

McDonald’s Restaurants has applied for a premises licence to cover all hours for late-night refreshment, which is required to serve hot food and hot drink between 11pm and 5am.

But in their representations, residents say the only local branches open beyond 11pm are a long way from housing estates.

One said having a junk food venue with late night/early morning opening is “incitement to crime and disorder”, adding: “The local pizza takeaway has had numerous incidents with threatening behaviour and smashed glass frontage.”

Another wrote: “This is usually a quiet neighbourhood after dark but now this will bring noise, light and antisocial behaviour all night long.

“How many other drive-thru McDonald’s placed in the middle of housing estates are open 24/7? Not Fishponds, not Yate shopping centre, Not Sheene Road, Bedminster – they all close by 11pm. 24/7 opening for a drive thru in Bradley Stoke is nothing short of ludicrous.”

One resident said: “I know for a fact the problems you are already experiencing already from your other facilities as I work for the police and know they are called regularly to antisocial behaviour and these are facilities not even adjoining residential properties.

“This is already a disaster in the making.”

Another added: “As the new building is completed we can all see what we feared – a monstrous disturbance to our community with a mix of traffic, smell, noise and litter set to plague nearby residents and our wonderful nature reserve.

“The smell will never end. At least airports close at night to give residents some peace.”
One more said: “It can’t be good from an environmental perspective.

“Do we really need to burn power to run a food outlet just so people can get a cheeseburger at 3am?”

No representations have been submitted by any authorities including the police and environmental health, which are satisfied with proposed conditions.

South Gloucestershire Council licensing sub-committee will hold a hearing to decide the application on Tuesday, September 6.

Main photo: Pixabay

Adam Postans is a local democracy reporter for Bristol

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