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Police step in at Whitfield as McDonald's drive-thrus reopen across the country

By: Charlie Harman

Published: 19:45, 02 June 2020

Updated: 14:34, 03 June 2020

Problems with traffic queuing at a McDonald's drive-thru which reopened today resulted in police stepping in.

Fast food fans were rejoicing as the popular eatery announced 168 openings nationwide - but officers had to intervene at Whitfield, Dover.

Queues at the Whitfield branch have been stretching back onto a busy roundabout

So many people attended the recently revamped branch that police had to direct traffic.

The five officers even set up a temporary road block as the queues stretched back onto a key roundabout heading towards Dover.

Part of the measures installed to ease congestion on surrounding roads included a two-lane system in the drive-thru itself.

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Not only were there long queues approaching the service windows, cars were also pulling up in a click-and-collect parking area.

These chaotic scenes echo those seen in Rochester and Strood when the Commercial Road branch reopened.

Police had been told about the opening and were on standby to deal with traffic issues.

Extra lanes have been created in an attempt to ease the flood of customers
Fans have been braving long queues in hot weather for a burger or nuggets
Police officers have been liaising with the Whitfield McDonald's manager over traffic mitigation

Meanwhile, Sheerness McDonald's in Bridge Road on the Isle of Sheppey was also one of the eight in Kent which reopened today.

Within minutes, two cars were at the check-out. But business remained steady with staff, wearing face masks, on patrol in the car park not needing to direct traffic into a prepared holding pen by Sheppey College.

The burger business reopened 168 locations across the UK and Ireland at 11am. Its Bobbing site near Sittingbourne opened last month and led to complaints of queuing. A further 22 restaurants opened for McDelivery today.

A spokesman warned: "We are glad to be back but it will look a little different and may take a little longer, so please bear with us. We have fewer employees in our kitchens to enable our teams to social distance and work safely.

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"We will have a limited menu with no breakfast or Shakes for now and will open for reduced hours between 11am and 10pm."

Contactless payment is preferred and orders should be capped at £25.

Those visiting drive-thrus can can browse the menu, order and pay in advance using the My McDonald’s App so staff can prepare orders as customers are on the way.

For more details visit www.McDonalds.co.uk

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