Neighbours revolt over Corby's third McDonald's

Local people are worried about boy racers and anti-social behaviour
The finishing touches are being added to Corby's Southern Gateway McDonald'sThe finishing touches are being added to Corby's Southern Gateway McDonald's
The finishing touches are being added to Corby's Southern Gateway McDonald's

People living close to Corby's newest McDonald's have raised major concerns over the new restaurant which is due to open at the Southern Gateway A6003 roundabout on Wednesday (March 4).

Bosses at the new franchise had planned to open the restaurant 24-hours-a-day, but initially they will only be able to open until 11pm because they must first apply to Corby Council for a licence to stay open overnight.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The council's licensing meeting doesn't take place until Monday (March 9) and ahead of that, residents of Little Colliers Field have told councillors that have worries over litter, rats, noise, boy racers, parking and anti-social behaviour.

One neighbour said: "I truly believe the all night opening will create noise nuisance and increase levels of anti-social behaviour. Crime and disorder levels will definitely increase with unruly teenagers using the late-night restaurant as a hang-out.

"I have lived on Little Colliers Field housing development just over two years now and on a daily and nightly basis we hear cars speeding and screeching in and out of the petrol station.. then parking up playing loud music at all hours of the night, then the smell of cannabis every night coming from these parked-up vehicles."

He also said that HGVs have destroyed the verges around their estate and cause a noise nuisance by parking up all night.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Another local person said: "We are very upset that these extended opening hours will cause us a lot of noise, people throwing rubbish everywhere. We can appreciate that it is open during the day but are very concerned about the night hours.

"We absolutely love it here and would hate to have to move."

A third neighbour said they thought the McDonald's would cause a strain on the busy roads, adding: "It is my concern that the restaurant will bring anti-social behaviour, noise, litter and rodents to the area."

Another objector said: "This is a housing estate with families that have young children and people that need to get up for work.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Are fast food restaurants on housing estates usually given a licence to be open 24-hours-a-day?"

He added that he believed that the area would now be a magnet for boy racers and drug dealers.

The restaurant is next to an existing petrol station with a Greggs inside it, and there is a Costa Coffee under construction that will be opening soon. Locals say they weren't told about the McDonald's when they bought their homes.

The restaurant's franchisee is Glyn Pashley, who also runs McDonald's outlets at Phoenix Parkway and Corporation Street. It is estimated that there will be 95 jobs created by its opening.

A sign advertising the 24-hour opening has already gone up.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A McDonald's spokesman said: “We take our responsibility to the local community extremely seriously and continuously strive to be a good neighbour.

"We are absolutely committed to protecting the environment and actively carry-out daily litter picks in the areas surrounding our restaurants, collecting all rubbish as well as our own. We also strive to ensure our restaurants are a welcoming and friendly environment for all and have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to crime and anti-social behaviour.“

Next Monday's meeting will be open to members of the public. It takes place at 10.30am at the Corby Cube.