West London campaigners are seeking funds to help pay for legal representation as they fight plans for a 24/7 McDonald’s near their homes.
Fulham residents claim the American fast-food chain’s application for its North End Road restaurant would heap pressure on the police and affect locals’ livelihoods. One has claimed McDonald’s does a “poor job” preventing nuisance and that the area has been “desecrated with crime-attracting takeaways”.
A McDonald’s spokesperson said the company is “actively engaging” with residents, stakeholders and the council to address any concerns raised.
The North End Road site, which is a ten-minute walk from Fulham Broadway station, has an existing licence permitting it to sell late night refreshment and remain open until midnight.
If approved by Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee later this month, the application would enable it to extend its hours to open 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week and sell food and drink to customers round the clock.
The application has drawn the ire of some residents who believe it would lead to spikes in crime and public nuisance.
Sarah Chambers, Chair of the Walham Green Met Police/Community Ward Panel, previously told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “Big Macs after midnight would increase the pressure on local police officers at a time when the Met is facing more than £200 million of cuts. In addition 24/7 hours would lead to daily disturbance for residents trying to sleep.
“The residential density of this area is four times the London average, with families living cheek by jowl with commercial premises.”
Since then, residents’ group FulhamTogether has launched a GoFundMe page asking for donations to help pay for legal representation at the upcoming licensing meeting. A target of £9,000 has been set, with over £5,000 raised at the time of writing.
The page reads: “All donations will directly support legal fees. It’s not cheap, but going up against BigMac McDonald’s requires the strongest legal support. Granting this licence would set a damaging precedent, encouraging other applications for late-night businesses across Fulham and threatening the peace and safety of our Fulham neighbourhoods.”
Charlotte Dexter, who lives locally, said: “This part of Fulham is densely residential, almost four times the London average. It’s time to get back to the intention of Parliament back in 2003 when the Licensing Act was enacted. It did not intend to force Licensing Committees to allow our residential neighbourhoods to be desecrated with crime-attracting takeaways for the sake of treating businesses with a ‘soft-touch’, as long as they promise to do their best to prevent crime and nuisance.
“McD’s does a poor job of preventing nuisance and preventing crime has nothing to do with their expertise, flipping burgers.”
Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “McDonald’s on North End Road Fulham is, by the Met Police’s admission, a ‘crime hot-spot’. Dealing with crime associated with McD takes up a disproportionate amount of police resources. As extending the opening hours of a notorious crime spot will inevitably result in more crime, any such extension would not result in ‘promoting the objectives of the Licensing Act’ – extended hours for McD will frustrate the attainment of those objectives.”
A McDonald’s spokesperson said: “At McDonald’s, we are committed to being a responsible and considerate neighbour within our local community. Our application to extend the operating hours of our North End Road restaurant is intended to provide greater flexibility and convenience for our customers — including key workers and late-night commuters. We are actively engaging with residents, stakeholders, and the licensing authority to address any concerns they may have.”
The Licensing Sub-Committee meeting is scheduled for May 28. The donations page can be found on the GoFundMe website.
