A fast food restaurant boss has said plans to reject his bid for a 24-hour licence will stop him creating new jobs.
Nigel Dunnington, the franchisee of the McDonald’s on Churchill Way, Leyland, said he plans to create up to 12 new roles if he secures the new licence for the restaurant.
But, planning officials have called for councillors to refuse his application to extend his opening hours arguing it is “a flash point” for anti-social behaviour.
The franchisee said the drive-thru part of the restaurant already opened until 2am and said reports of problems were “historic.”
Mr Dunnington said: “There are no issues connected with the drive-thru and it is unfair to talk about the issues because they have not been a problem for a long time.
“We work closely with the police and speak to people living near to the restaurant and they do not have issues.
“Our customers are asking us to open up the restaurant, so they can use our facilities instead of just the drive-thru.
“There is a demand there and we want to meet that demand and create new jobs.”
The proposal is due to be considered by the planning committee on South Ribble Council next Wednesday night.
In a report to the committee, Lancashire Police raised an objection to the application saying there had been “significant evidence” of criminal damage to cars and buildings around the restaurant.
The objection added there had been several police initiatives to reduce crime in the area and said McDonald’s had been forced to employ its own security staff.
Mr Dunnington said the restaurant had not employed security staff for “some considerable time.”
The council’s environmental health department added it had “concerns” about noise problems caused by a 24-hour licence, but admitted it had “a lack of contributory evidence” to back up its claim.
The report concluded the noise and anti-social behaviour caused by the extended licence would be “detrimental” to local homes and the character of the area and recommended the application be refused.
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