McDonald’s Dubbo West owner Peter Lewsam has promised to send the “message loud and clear” to students that they can not cut class to eat in the fast-food outlet. Mr Lewsam said this was one of a number of issues he wanted to address and that his door was open to the community. The fast-food outlet has Daily Liberal bloggers as allies, as they take up McDonald’s right to trade. Dubbo West Public School Parents and Citizens Committee president Simone Gray had concerns to do with litter, nutrition, traffic and building after the store opened last week. Mr Lewsam has told the Daily Liberal that students dressed in school uniforms, unaccompanied by an adult and without a leave pass, will not be served. “If we put our foot down, kids will realise they’re not going to get served and give it a miss,” he said. “We’ll come down hard in the first month to get the message out loud and clear.” It was a development application condition that McDonald’s routinely clean up about the block, Mr Lewsam said. Staff had begun litter patrols, he said. “We need three to four weeks to work out the patterns, and the most effective times,” he said. The gap in the wall mentioned by Ms Gray was another development application matter, Mr Lewsam said. The council had signed off and issued the occupancy certificate before he took possession of the building, he said. The fast-food restaurant owner has pledged to work with the community. “I’ve given a 100 per cent commitment to attend to anything (the schools) think we’re falling down in,” he said. He also said he had offered support to the schools and told them if they have any ideas, they should feel free to approach him. Mr Lewsam said he had also made efforts to contact the P and C president, but had not been successful. “I’m freely open and available to anyone who wants to speak with me, they can give me a call, I’m happy to deal with it,” he said. Daily Liberal website readers have taken a dim view of the charges levelled at McDonalds. “Instead of blaming McDonald’s, how about putting some blame on the parents who don’t take the time to send their children to school with a healthy packed lunch, but would rather just give them money and tell them to get their own food,” ‘Talpip’ wrote. “It’s (sic) the lazy parents that should take the blame not the fast food companies.” ICEQueen agreed. “ Why should McDonalds staff be responsible for the choices that a district makes when it comes to the nutrition of children?” ICEQueen wrote. “Asking them not to sell particular food to people wearing certain clothing can be viewed as both discriminatory and also imposing restrictive trade practices on the company.” faye.wheeler @ruralpress.com
