FOOD delivery couriers in east London will stage a motorcade on Wednesday in protest against parking fines of £65 while they collect orders.

The UberEats and Deliveroo couriers, who are members of the Independent Workers of Great Britain union (IWGB), want McDonald’s to allow them to use its customer car park in Abbott Street, Dalston, when collecting meals for delivery.

At the moment they have to face multiple parking fines while collecting meals, or have to use a public car park some distance away with no toilets or shelter.

The couriers say that parking there also costs them wages due to its distance from the restaurant and that using off-site parking leaves them vulnerable to moped theft.

But the couriers say that, after a meeting with local authority officials and McDonald’s, “their concerns were dismissed” and they were instructed to use the public car park.

Michael, a local delivery worker, says: “Mcdonald’s should open its car park for riders. 

“We are key workers, and without us McDonald’s would have made no money during the pandemic. We should be treated with respect.”

The motorcade, which has the backing of Labour MP Diane Abbott, starts at 2.30pm and will move from Ashwin Street to Hackney Town Hall. 

Workers for UberEats and Deliveroo will also refuse to take orders from Dalston McDonald’s.

The protest is the third in the last two months.

A spokesperson for McDonald’s said: “While McDonald’s has access to use the area behind our restaurant, we do not own, or directly rent the land so we do not have the right to grant access for others to use it. 

“We have been working with our delivery partners, Hackney Council and the police to find a positive solution that works for residents, businesses and couriers alike.”