McDonald's wins seating permission

Last year, the burger giant's branch on Telford Road banned a gang of youths from eating in the restaurant after they trashed the toilets and disrupted customers.

The youths were told that they would still be served food but would have to eat it outside, but local councillor Lesley Hinds fears the new outdoor seating will encourage them to congregate in the grounds and disrupt neighbouring residents.

However, her fears fell on deaf ears as she fought for an amendment to reject the seating as a condition of approval for a wider programme of refurbishments, which also includes a 25-foot-high sign.

The majority of councillors voted to approve the plans in their entirety after planning officials advised that the risk of anti-social behaviour would be no greater than at the outdoor seating in the neighbouring Telford Arms.

The approval is likely to anger residents, who were already up in arms about the 25-foot sign.