More details have been revealed about plans for a new McDonald’s restaurant in Wokingham.
Approval was given for the unit at Bridge Retail Park on Finchampstead Road in May. It will feature a dine-in and takeaway operation in the former Carpetright unit.
Now, details have been submitted to Wokingham Borough Council regarding traffic and litter management.
Agents for the landowner have said they have appointed Horizon Parking, who currently manage the 84-space car park.
They have said the existing two-hour limit will remain in place, and penalty charge notices will continue to be issued for vehicles staying longer.
In a letter, they said: “Parking in standard bays will be limited to two hours, and parking in disabled spaces will be restricted to blue badge holders.
“Staff and couriers would be exempt from the restrictions as existing.
“The business manager will be responsible for monitoring the parking of McDelivery drivers.
“It is expected that couriers will become familiar with the restaurant and parking arrangements as they make repeated visits.”
They noted that McDonald’s restaurants have a strict protocol in place for ensuring that noise and disturbance is kept to a minimum.
“All shift managers will receive conflict resolution training sufficiently to ensure they can effectively deal with noise or anti-social behaviour.
“External complaints will be taken extremely seriously. In extreme circumstances the restaurant manager will liaise with the Council and Police to discuss noise and behavioural mitigation measures if the proposed measures are not effective.
“The restaurant manager will work in partnership with the local police force to prevent crime and disorder where needed. This will include tasks such as providing witness statements and CCTV footage to the Police in the event of anti-social behaviour.
“The management team are trained to monitor the restaurant and the area outside the restaurant consistently to ensure that customers who cause any undue disruption or noise are asked to leave immediately. If necessary, the Police will be alerted.”
It added that incidents of anti-social behaviour at existing McDonald’s restaurants are kept to an absolute minimum through strategies such as staff training, liaison with community police officers, and the use of CCTV cameras where necessary.
“The measures proposed at the Bridge Retail Park restaurant are therefore considered sufficient to prevent anti-social behaviour within the car park.”
The letter also noted how litter management is an integral part of McDonald’s Restaurants operations.
“The restaurant manager will walk around the surrounding roads and footpaths at different times of day to familiarise themselves with the surrounding area and assess where if any McDonald’s litter is being left and determine the route and frequency of the patrols.
“A minimum of 150 metres in all directions around the restaurant will be assessed. This would therefore cover the whole of the Bridge Retail Park car park.
“Upon determining the route and frequency of the litter patrols, staff will be scheduled to go on the patrols and the necessary equipment will be provided. Staff will remove all litter within the litter patrol area (a minimum 150 metres from the restaurant boundary).
No date has yet been revealed for the planned opening date for the restaurant.
