This is the picture that many people in North Cheam hoped they would never see.

In May, fast food giants McDonald's won its battle to build a drive-thru restaurant in London Road, and on Friday construction workers finally lowered the new outlet's roof into place.

Despite assurances from McDonald's that the public's fears over litter, noise, and disruption would be taken seriously, residents from the MacAlert protest group are vowing to keep a close eye on the development.

After losing their fight to block McDonald's at May's enquiry and substitute the development with sheltered accommodation for the elderly or disabled, the group is determined to make sure that the company sticks to the letter of strict planning conditions.

Group spokesman John Osbourne said: "If residents have problems with building works, deliveries, noise, or cooking smells then they must make sure the appropriate council officers know. We will be leafleting residents and setting up a system to ensure that McDonald's do not break their own rules."

MacAlert lost its fight against the multi-national despite handing over a 3,000 name petition at the enquiry and winning the support of Sutton and Cheam MP Paul Burstow and the area's ward councillors.

Although planning inspectors acknowledged residents' protests and the fact that the building work clashed with Sutton's Unitary Development plan, they said that objections were not strong enough to warrant rejection.

But not everybody is opposed to the opening of the burger giant's latest restaurant. Many North Cheam traders are welcoming the arrival of a big name to the town and the removal of a vacant site from the London Road.

In winning its battle for planning commission McDonald's was also forced to agree to help fund the area's CCTV system.

The new McDonald's is expected to open early next month. A spokesman said that McDonald's would be listening to residents' fears and hoped the outlet would boost North Cheam's economy.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.