A FAST food outlet in Kidderminster which was given the green light to stay open for 24 hours a day will bring 20 new jobs to the area.

The McDonald’s restaurant, in Worcester Road, will increase its opening hours from 18 to 24 hours a day, after Wyre Forest District Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee granted the application, with a number of conditions including managing noise level and patrolling the area four times a day.

Local McDonald’s franchisee, Afia Sirkhot, said the council’s decision to grant her restaurant longer opening hours will create about 20 new jobs over the coming months.

She said: “We are pleased that the local council has approved our application to extend opening hours at the Worcester Road restaurant which we will put in place from the end of June.

“Extending the opening hours will create 20 additional jobs locally, and allow us to provide a convenient choice for our customers who are increasingly living outside of a nine-to-five routine.

“We understand that local residents have voiced their concerns. Let me reassure them that we want to continue to be a responsible, proactive neighbour within this community.

“Whatever our opening hours, we will continue to work closely with anyone within the area who has concerns about the impact of our restaurant.”

However, the approval of the longer opening hours was met with anger from residents who feared that existing anti-social behaviour issues would be increased as the site would become a “magnet” for boy racers, noise and litter problems.

Bill Slater who lives off Wilden Lane, opposite McDonald’s, said: “The problems are the litter issues, plus the place is a magnet for boy racers who spin their wheels and race off at crazy speeds.

“For the last 10 years, despite the restaurant closing at 11pm, they congregate on the car park and make one hell of a racket into the early hours.

“It is the local neighbourhood that will be affected by the extension of the opening hours.”

The council received five letters of objection, plus one on behalf of three ward councillors, with one resident stating it would ‘make their lives a misery’.

Independent councillor Helen Dyke said: “I think the extra opening hours applied for and awarded are totally inappropriate for any fast food operation operating adjacent to 150 residential properties.”