The McDonald’s drive-thru off Broadway has submitted a planning application to stay open 24 hours a day.

The restaurant withdrew an application for 24-hour opening in March, but has applied again with tomorrow the deadline for comments or objections.

Residents at the adjacent Broadway Heights are again displaying a banner against the proposal and a petition has also been started, which so far has more than 70 signatures.

Cllr Paul Harper, a Labour councillor for Fant ward, is among those against the application.

He said: “Basically, that McDonald’s should never have been allowed in the beginning. It’s in the wrong place given its proximity to Broadway Heights.”

He’s written a letter to residents outlining his objections, including that it would create additional noise at night, aggravate the issue of the smell from fat fryers going into Broadway Heights and that it could result in anti-social behaviour with people who have been drinking in the town centre visiting the restaurant.

However the McDonald’s franchisee, Ali El Hajj, said there was demand from customers for the restaurant to be open 24 hours a day.

“Anybody who has any concerns is more than welcome to come down and discuss their concerns,” he said.

Mr El Hajj added that steps were in place to minimise disruption for neighbours, such as turning off signage at night, not having deliveries before 9am and staff moving on people who are making noise in the car park.