New parking restrictions are to be introduced around two McDonald's restaurants after complaints about 'disgraceful' and 'dangerous' parking by delivery drivers.
Locals and councillors say the huge rise in the numbers of people having the popular fast food delivered after the Covid lockdowns has created huge problems with "nuisance parking" around the two branches in Stockport.
They claim those picking up orders from the busy eatery on Wellington Road South are blocking pavements on both the A6 and Station Road, and as a result, are causing hazards and blighting one of the key entrances into the town centre. There have also been reports of drivers parking on and around a service road on the pedestrianised stretch of the shopping area that the Merseyway branch sits on.
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McDonald's claims it has raised the issues with its 'third party' delivery operators. However new traffic orders are now being introduced in order to try to clamp down on it. There are already double yellow lines on most of the A6/Station Road junction.
In some areas a grace period can be allowed for loading and unloading, even on double yellow lines unless specifically banned. A new traffic order will now formally prohibit loading and unloading 24 hours a day, with new double yellow stripe markings having appeared on the kerbs around the branch.
Eraina Smith, Stockport Council's Design and Improvement Manager for Place Services told the meeting of the Stockport Area Committee late last month: "We're getting the order sealed as soon as possible so we can implement the markings and we're going to be getting our enforcement officers as well as the police out once they have been installed. That is expected to be done in around two to four weeks."
It would mean wardens could "immediately" issue a ticket to any vehicle contravening them.
Whilst the specifics have not yet been made public, she indicated a new Traffic Regulation Order prohibiting loading and parking was also being drawn up for the area around the Merseyway branch.
However, she said changes were being considered to current 'limited waiting' restrictions near that restaurant in order to give drivers somewhere to park whilst picking up their deliveries, as it doesn't have a car park. A motion tabled by members of the Area Committee said there was a 'perennial issue of anti-social parking by delivery drivers at fast food premises in Stockport Town Centre' and that 'nuisance parking is leading to blocked footways, blocked junctions and making it dangerous for pedestrians and motorists in the area.'
It asked for Mcdonald's to 'suspend their delivery system until proper marshalling and policing has been introduced, and contribute towards infrastructure such as bollards that will protect the footway in these high footfall areas.'
And if not for the council to consider serving a Community Protection Notice on 'individual problem restaurants.'
Edgeley councillor Matt Wynne told the meeting: "The Station Road McDonald's is the primary route that Edgeley residents get into the town centre. That may change somewhat when the Thomson Street footbridge is open but nevertheless, it is still the sort of primary route that people enter our borough, exit the railway station and come into town.
"The behaviour of some of the delivery drivers is nothing short of a disgrace. And I think McDonald's are equally culpable in this. I get it, McDonald's deliveries have only been a thing for like two or three years. When we went into lockdown people became very attached to them as they couldn't go into the stores.
"It's absolutely mental really that it is 24 hours. People love McDonald's, they do, I'm guilty of it, but the delivery turnover is absolutely incredible. You have some of these couriers that are just non-stop coming and going. They have a tough job as they aren't on great money, but they also have a duty as much as the restaurant has a duty as well.
"This is causing a big problem for Edgeley residents that are coming through. The cars are completely blocking off the footway over. If you've got a kid in a pram or you are in a wheelchair, you've got HGVs coming up there, Hackney cabs coming up there. As soon as it gets dark it's incredibly dangerous.
"I've spoken to the security they have in McDonald's and it's a sign of the times they need security in McDonald's, and the managers as well and asked them 'what are you doing about this?' and you just get a shurg.
"They're making money hand over fist, that restaurant, and from my engagement trying to sort this out for Edgeley residents, they don't give a monkeys."
Regarding the new restrictions, he said: "I'm not convinced this will sort this out and I think more needs to be done if it doesn't sort it out. It's affecting community safety and it's a terrible entrance to our town centre."
A man who for the last three years had been based in the Mailbox building facing the A6 McDonald's told the Manchester Evening News: "It's a huge issue. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday are the worst but we get it every night. Between 6pm and 7pm-ish its madness.
"They don't use the car as they want to be able to just run in get the food and get away as quick as possible. But where they're leaving them it's dangerous. It can cause queues backing up to the A6 box junction as people can't get through. But they don't seem to care. There's also the constant beeping of horns."
He said he welcomed the new restrictions but said: "The wardens need to be down here and issuing tickets straight away. If they give them any sort of grace they'll have no effect whatsoever, as they are in and out in minutes.
Brinnginton and Central councillor Andy Sorton said it had been a 'source of frustration all around the town centre.'
"This really took off during Covid," he told the meeting. "I'm not saying it was about turning blind eyes, it was dealing with reality in Covid. People trying to make a living in the shops, in the fast food where there used to be footfall.
"So I think everyone understood and did everything they could to help with that. But it's not just McDonald's on the A6, and it's not just McDonald's. We've had it all over Warren Street and it must be costing the council a fortune to resolve this. And it's unsustainable and it's unacceptable.
"What bothers me is when we term some things as anti-social behaviour, yet people parking all over pavements, over cycle lanes, making it totally difficult for anyone to walk or cycle, get off the bus and walk across the road, society believes that's not as important as someone maybe making a noise. Well it is actually. "
"I say it, and we may not see it in my time, but we have taxi drivers that are licensed and I think at some point we're going to have to licence people like McDonald's, the premises or the drivers themselves because they have a social responsibility for them to behave properly and they're just not taking that on" Coun Sorton added.
A spokesperson for McDonald’s said: “McDonald’s is committed to being a good neighbour in the local community. We have escalated the issues raised by the council to our third-party delivery operators."
A source added 'postivie meetings' had already been held with the council over the issues and that they were happy to meet for further discussions over the coming weeks.
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