McDonald’s delivery drivers are making life hell for residents in a street in Stoke and they're demanding action.
Locals have been complaining that the fast-food outlet’s couriers are hogging parking spaces, making too much noise and dropping litter in Hollywall Lane, Sandyford, a suburb of the city, reports StokeonTrent Live.
With many takeaway lovers nowadays opting to order from the comfort of their own homes rather than venturing out, it has seen a dramatic rise of food couriers, who can often be seen lugging their big, foil-lined bags into restaurants ready to pick up their customers’ orders and deliver them promptly.
But many are choosing not to use the outlets’ car parks, instead leaving their vehicles on the roadside and this has become something of an issue in this part of Stoke and residents are getting fed up with the constant disruption to their lives.
Hollywall Lane resident Alan Gallimore said: “They park down here all the time. Every time I move my car the space is gone and I have to park down the street.
“There are normally six or seven cars down here constantly. They leave rubbish after them and on Saturdays it is packed out.”
The Stoke-on-Trent City Council recently blocked McDonald’s bid to open its Sandyford branch until 2am every morning, meaning that the branch must close at 11pm.
Another local Kyle Davies said: “The big problem is they all park down Hollywall Lane and sometimes it is impossible to cross the road because of the amount of cars.
“The amount of litter they leave is ridiculous.”
Sue Edwards added: “The biggest problem with people waiting there is when they are having loud conversations and leave their rubbish.”
McDonald’s says it carries out daily litter patrols in the streets surrounding the Sandyford branch. A spokesman said: “We strive to be a good neighbour in the communities we serve and we will work with our delivery partners to ensure all couriers continue to drive safely and park appropriately.
“The safety and wellbeing of our people, customers and local residents remains our top priority.
“We take our responsibility around litter very seriously, which is why for over 40 years, McDonald’s restaurant teams, have carried out daily litter patrols in local communities, collecting all litter not just McDonald’s branded packaging.
“We would encourage customers to inform our crew members of any litter hotspots which we will look to include in our litter patrols wherever possible.”
