Big Mac flak over late-night food bid

Apr 25 2007 By David Bell, Birmingham Mail

A BIG Mac bid to open a restaurant until 5am in Birmingham city centre has stirred up trouble in Paradise.

The McDonald's outlet in Paradise Forum wants to trade into the wee small hours on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

But the application for a licence is being strongly opposed by the complex's letting agents, GVA Grimley.

The property advisers have been managing Paradise Forum for the past two and a half years.

It claims the early morning opening times would be "wholly inappropriate".

"Sadly the area suffers from varying types of anti social behaviour ranging from vagrancy and rough sleeping to alcohol and drug-related disturbances," said a Grimley spokesman.

"The opening of a McDonald's restaurant throughout the night will serve to exacerbate the situation.

"It is already proving difficult to control, despite the combined resources of our security officers, the police, community support officers, and street wardens."

Similar problems at Broad Street's McDonald's had caused late night trading to be abandoned, he added.

The city's licensing committee meets to settle the dispute today.