McDonald's and the city council have taken action after rodent sightings in the vicinity of a Lincoln branch run by the fast food giant.
The local resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, has been to McDonald’s on Moorland Close (off Tritton Road) and seen rats “running around in the day and night” five times in the last couple of weeks — in the drive-thru area and on the nearby grass.
He said there are “loads of them and it’s horrible” and reported it to McDonald’s.
“I used to go twice a week, but won’t use it now, I don’t think it’s right rats running about,” he added. He also claimed that staff told him they had even named all the rats.
The city council investigated and found “no evidence” of rats entering the food premises. It has worked with the local landowner to agree to the removal of a section of hedging where the rodents nest.
The local resident said he has seen rats near the drive-thru and on the grass area at the McDonald's branch.
A spokesperson for McDonald’s said: “Hygiene and cleanliness are of the utmost importance to us, pest control experts carry out regular routine checks of our Lincoln – Moorland Way restaurant and the surrounding area, which is standard practice, and helps ensure we maintain our food hygiene rating of 5.
“We have made contact with the local authority following some rodent sightings in the vicinity of our restaurant and they have advised that they are looking into the matter in relation to land adjacent to our restaurant.”
A spokesperson for City of Lincoln Council said: “We have investigated the issue of rats in this area and have found no evidence that they have entered the food premises.
“However, we have worked with the local landowner and yesterday agreed with them the removal of a section of hedging where the rats appear to nest. This work is scheduled to take place next week.”
