Fears fast food rush could block road to hospital
Chain reopens despite MP’s queue concern
A McDonald’s Drive Thru has reopened despite concerns it could lead to traffic chaos and delay hospital access. Aylesford MP Tracey Crouch wrote to the fast food chain asking bosses to push back the reopening of the Aylesford Drive Thru which lies in the same road as Maidstone Hospital.
She is worried the entry and exit lanes both come out in Hermitage Lane and so when cars build up, they will block a main route to the hospital. Ms Crouch also highlights as the Maidstone branch in Hart Street reopens this week too, along with all other McDonald’s in the UK, both main routes to the hospital could be jammed. Last month, cars tailed back for about a mile on the Medway City Estate when the Strood and Gillingham restaurants welcomed customers back.
In an email to McDonald’s, Ms Crouch said: “Given the significant queues we have seen elsewhere around the county when stores have reopened, I do not think that this is the right store to be reopening at this time, and although I am very sorry for those who work there and for those of us who crave a sausage an egg mcmuffin (me), I think it will cause chaos and potentially cost lives.”
However, despite Ms Crouch voicing her concerns, the outlet reopened on Wednesday. McDonald’s has employed “traffic management guards” to work at the restaurant during the first week of reopening.
Police support officers were also stationed at the site to help manage traffic.
In reply to Ms Crouch, the fast food chain said it is taking the prospect of traffic problems “extremely seriously” and staff have been working closely with Kent Police to ensure restaurants can begin serving customers again safely. McDonald’s said: “We are clear that if it is deemed necessary to close the restaurant if queues do cause serious disruption we are prepared to do so.”
However, Ms Crouch is “still unhappy” about the situation and thinks traffic could be “horrendous”.
She said: “I am not quite sure what powers or training the “traffic management guards” have in order to ensure the free flow of traffic on the A20 or the busy B road to the Hospital A&E but I hope it is enough. “Fingers crossed that I am horribly wrong and we have a harmonious situation of people being able to get their burgers while others safely reach the hospital without any problems.”