FURIOUS residents living close to an under-construction McDonald’s say traffic at the site is an accident waiting to happen.

Worried campaigner Valerie Sharpe, who lives in Williamsburg Avenue, Dovercourt, fears a “serious accident” is inevitable due to the careless actions of lorry and van drivers delivering materials to the site.

The 72-year-old said the traffic has piled up since the building work for a McDonald’s and Costa started a few months ago.

Dozens of vehicles working at the fast-food site are now parking on both sides of Williamsburg Avenue, she said.

Mrs Sharpe said: “We are being crucified by lorries, cars and vans.

“Before we know it, there will be a serious accident.”

There are between 12 and 15 vehicles parked down the road from 6am until late most days of the week, she claims.

She said: “The parking is a real problem.

“There is a car park nearby and we have allowed people to park there but they never do.

“It’s very narrow and they are on parked on the bends.

“You can’t see sometimes when people are coming around the corner.

“It is an accident waiting to happen and it will happen when McDonald’s opens.”

She also claims some of the vehicles park on double red lines.

Mrs Sharpe contacted Essex Police, Tendring Council and North East Essex Parking Partnership on Monday to highlight the problem.

She said: “We know we can’t stop the Mcdonald’s and Costa from being built, but we do feel we need to be safe.

“God forbid if a child should get hurt.

“We need to be able to get in and out of the road safely, but we just can’t as it’s just so dangerous.”

There are about 50 residents who are being affected by the parked vehicles.

But a North Essex Parking Partnership spokesman said it appeared drivers were not parking on the clearway parking restrictions, but beyond the end of them where NEPP can take no action.

He added: “NEPP considers the potential benefits and impacts of many parking or waiting restriction requests from across north Essex and would be happy to do so for any submitted by residents of Williamsburg Avenue.

“Residents wanting parking or waiting restrictions should demonstrate local support, including from the local ward councillor.”

Each request is reviewed and schemes are then referred to the Partnership’s committee.

A McDonald’s spokesman said:“We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused and have requested that contractors working on the site do not park on the road.”