‘One-way traffic’ call as McDonald’s prepares to reopen in Newtownabbey

The advice has been issued in a bid to try and alleviate predicted traffic issues in the area.

Officers from Newtownabbey Neighbourhood Policing Team met with store management last Wednesday after the fast food giant announced it was to reopen every ‘Drive Thru’ in the UK and Ireland between Tuesday and Thursday of this week.

Speaking to the Times following the meeting, PSNI Neighbourhood officer John Neill said: “We’d urge customers wishing to use the McDonald’s drive-through at Glengormley to come in at the Farmley entrance, drive through the car park at Tramways and round past the Movie House to the restaurant.

“We’d ask people to then exit via the Glenwell Road junction beside the old police station. We are also encouraging customers who are wishing to use the Abbey Centre McDonald’s drive thru to come in via the Longwood Road entrance and exit via the Boots end of the shopping centre.

“Following the reopening of other fast food restaurants, we’re predicting there will be a lot of interest in the Newtownabbey branches reopening and we’d ask customers to follow this advice to reduce congestion.”

Concerns have previously been voiced about traffic volumes in the Antrim Road area of Glengormley.

Commenting ahead of Glengormley McDonald’s reopening, Cllr Rosie Kinnear said: “Queues at other takeaway outlets have been ridiculous and it’s likely they will be here too.”

Meanwhile, Cllr Noreen McClelland said following a meeting with the manager today (Tuesday), it was her under understanding the outlet was reopening at 11am tomorrow (Wednesday, June 3).

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