SOUTHEND Council has posted a notice on streets around a McDonald's which is set to re-open tomorrow amid fears of long queues forming.

The notices, flagged up by residents this morning and which comes into force tomorrow, show plans to ban parking, stopping, loading and unloading in Cokefield Avenue and Pantile Avenue because of their proximity to McDonald's, at the junction of Cokefield Avenue and Eastern Avenue. 

The ban will be in place between 10am and 10pm in Cokefield Avenue and between 10am and 9pm in Pantile Avenue.

Echo:

The order could last for 14 days, depending on how busy the McDonald's restaurant becomes. 

>> Full list: All the McDonald's branches reopening across the UK today

One resident told the Echo: "There are a lot of angry people who live on those roads." 

It comes after fast-food restaurants around the country have experienced a surge in demand from customers as they re-opened after weeks of closure due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Ron Woodley, Southend Council cabinet member for transport, capital and inward investment, said: “With the announcement McDonalds are to reopen all their drive thru restaurants to the public, we were asked to work closely with Essex Police to ensure a temporary and safe traffic management system is in place to accommodate an expected influx of visitors to both sites.

“We are suspending parking on the carriageway along Cokefield Avenue and Pantile Avenue between 10am - 10pm, with the suspension in place for up to two weeks if necessary, but this will be under constant review and reduced and removed as soon as possible.  

"There will be a line of cones and barriers in the middle of Cokefield Avenue preventing vehicles turning right in to McDonalds.

"They will be directed to join the end of the queue. Vehicles will only be able to enter the site by turning left in from the queue, and vehicles leaving will only be able to turn left out.

“Please respect staff on site from the council, Essex Police and McDonalds, all of whom will be working hard to create safe access onto the sites and ensure pedestrian and road safety.”