Concerns over traffic and littering after reopening of Newmarket Road McDonald’s drive-thru in Cambridge

A group of city councillors are calling for urgent action to combat the problems caused by the reopening of the McDonald’s drive-thru on Newmarket Road in Cambridge.

Cllr Nicky Massey, Cllr Richard Johnson and Cllr Haf Davies, who are Labour councillors for the Abbey Ward, have written to the McDonald’s CEO and regional director expressing their concerns.

They are worried about the traffic problems caused by cars queuing to get into the drive-thru, creating long tailbacks along Newmarket Road and Barnwell Road and the subsequent possible safety worries.

The councillors are also concerned about a noticeable increase in littering in the residential area, with large amounts of rubbish being left in the surrounding streets.

In the joint letter, Cllrs Massey, Johnson and Davies said: “The congestion is a cause of great frustration and inconvenience to local residents and is also a serious concern with regard to air pollution due to the number of idling vehicles.

“Further, the reopening of the drive-thru has also caused a significant increase in discarded litter in the local area.

“These issues must be addressed as a matter of urgency, and if no adequate solution is found, the drive-thru should be shut until a robust and compliant traffic management plan is in place.”

A McDonald’s spokesperson said: “With restaurant teams adjusting to new procedures to enable safe working and social distancing, things may take a little longer – and demand has been very high. We are aware of some queues, and in line with our opening plans we have been working closely with local authorities and the police to mitigate the impact of increased traffic wherever possible.”

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