A NEW fast-food restaurant in Ulverston is to be open until midnight each day after a premises licence was granted by the council. 

The proposal for the drive-through branch of McDonald's set to be unveiled at Oubas Hill, Canal Street, in spring had attracted representations from members of the public concerned about increased levels of noise and youths potentially congregating in cars late at night.

Barrister Ben Williams, representing McDonald's, appeared before South Lakeland District Council's licensing sub-committee on Tuesday to appeal to councillors to approve the application.

Mr Williams said: "The brains of this operation are old and wise. 

"McDonald's has been around for a long time.

"Through trial and error, they have had their fair share of issues country-wide, and they have learnt, they have been able to introduce policies and processes."

Mr Williams said the police force in Cumbria had been consulted and had not raised objections to the proposal. 

He stressed that CCTV would be in operation to serve as 'extra eyes and ears' at Oubas Hill and to help deter 'joy boys' gathering in their cars at night. 

"You'll get people throughout the day, you'll get police officers passing through and truck drivers, so I think the 'joy boy' phenomenon is perhaps a little overplayed," he said.

Mr Williams said McDonald's would 'absolutely' be working with police in response to a question by Cllr Helen Ladhams, who was chairing the meeting. 

The restaurant is to be one of the many franchises of McDonald's, with the fast-food giant saying, on its website, that around 93 per cent of its restaurants worldwide are 'owned and operated by independent local business owners'.

Mr Williams told the meeting: "You don't get a franchisee running McDonald's in the Lakes unless they know the area."

In November, it was reported it was expected the site would create at least 65 full- and part-time jobs for local people.

The licensing sub-committee, meeting at South Lakeland House, Kendal, granted McDonald's opening hours of 6.30am to midnight every day of the week at the Ulverston site.