NEW measures are being introduced to try and solve the traffic congestion caused by McDonald's customers blocking roads outside the drive thru in Winsford.

Residents have complained about burger lovers causing big queues on Nat Road as they wait in cars to be served.

The fast food chain agreed to reinstate a security firm to manage the queue in September but this hasn't resolved traffic disruption.

Winsford town Cllr Nathan Pardoe and member of Cheshire West and Chester Council has met with local and regional McDonald's management, council staff and Cllr Karen Shore, cabinet minster for transport, in a bid to resolve the issue.

Cllr Pardoe said: "McDonald's were keen to resolve the problem and take their responsibilities seriously. They explained that the issues in Winsford and at other drive-thru sites are a combination of Covid-19 secure requirements in store to keep staff and customers safe, along with more customers choosing to drive-thru rather than dine in.

Northwich Guardian:

New ways to accommodate more cars within McDonald's drive thru site in Winsford are being developed to reduce big queues blocking neighbouring roads

"The next step agreed was that McDonald's Winsford will trial options to increase the queuing capacity at their site. Queue management will continue to support these changes. This partnership approach will take around 50 cars off public roads which should vastly reduce the number of queuing vehicles, helping through traffic and business access.

"Options are being trialled over the next few weeks."

McDonalds will be experimenting with different ways to accommodate the queue within their site on Wharton Industrial Estate, to see which configuration is the most effective.

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A McDonald’s spokesman said: “To help keep our people and our customers safe, we have introduced a number of additional measures and changes to our restaurants, which means it is taking a little longer than usual to serve people at our drive thrus.

“Our team in Winsford have been in regular contact with Cheshire West and Chester Council to try and find a solution to the queues at peak times in the area and we will be trialling some potential solutions over the next couple of weeks.

"We would like to thank local residents and our customers for their patience and the constructive work of local councillors Nathan Pardoe and Karen Shore in assisting us to find a way forward.”