The prospective franchisee of the new A47 McDonalds store near Norwich says his local links will ensure litter problems will not follow the opening of the fast-food outlet.
Kevin Foley, who also owns the franchise for the McDonald's stores in Tuckswood and near Norwich airport, has got family links to the new store's two nearest villages, Brundall and Blofield.
As reported in Saturday's Evening News, the former Little Chef restaurant off the A47 Brundall roundabout is to be converted into a McDonald's store, with work due to begin at the end of January.
Mr Foley intends to get tough on litter louts once the store opens – with a current provisional opening date scheduled for mid-April and around 65 jobs set to be created.
Mr Foley, who is due to put pen to paper for his third store this week, said: 'Litter is a general UK problem but with McDonald's, because we have our branding all over our products, we get noticed more than anyone else.
'I want us to be a good neighbour. My two stores in Norwich I would like to think are good neighbours. We do what we can, we have litter pickers and our caretakers do two litter walks a day and walk fairly long distances.
'It's an important part of our business and we have to make sure that we tidy up after ourselves, but also after our customers.'
There is a further incentive for Mr Foley to ensure his new store doesn't bring fresh litter to the area – his sister lives in Blofield and his father in Brundall.
Mr Foley, who also confirmed he plans the store to be open 24 hours a day because of a pre-existing licence permission from when the store was a Little Chef, added: 'I know Brundall is very conscious of litter anyway and I know there is a lady in the village called Wynne who has worked tirelessly against litter.
'So I certainly wouldn't want one of my stores to affect that.'
- Have you got a story for the Evening News? Contact reporter David Freezer on 01603 772418 or david.freezer@archant.co.uk
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