McDonald's apologises to milk shake fan after barring her mobility scooter at drive-through

A disabled woman who was told she could not use her road-going mobility scooter at a McDonald's drive-through has received an apology from the firm. Kate Legg, 76, has used the vehicle lane at the outlet in Bedhampton, Hampshire, many times to satisfy her craving for strawberry milkshakes. But after her latest visit, she was stunned to be told she would no longer be allowed to use the drive-through on her scooter for health and safety reasons.

Mrs Legg, who worked as a police matron at Portsmouth Central police station for many years, said: "I have a tax disc which means I can go on the road with the buggy. It goes at 8mph – if you are lucky. It was a lovely day and I went shopping to Asda. On the way back I fancied popping into McDonald’s for a £1.59 strawberry milkshake because I am a bit partial to them. I went to the drive-through, made my order and was served by a young man. This young person said 'I will serve you today and not again because of health and safety'. I was gobsmacked. I said to him 'I’ve got a tax disc'.



"He said 'my supervisor said this is what we have to do'. I said 'It’s a load of codswallop'.’" Mrs Legg, who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which causes breathing problems, added: "It wasn’t causing a problem was it? I just don’t understand. It’s discrimination. I don’t want to sue anyone and I don’t want free strawberry milkshake for the rest of my life – I just think it should be brought to people’s attention. It’s discrimination against people with disabilities. Health and safety was never created for this sort of ridiculousness – it was to protect people who were working in industry and with machinery."

A McDonald's spokeswoman said the company did not ban roadworthy mobility scooters from using the drive-through lanes but it did restrict ones not registered with DVLA for road use. She said: "The health and safety of our customers and staff is our top priority and for this reason we are unable to serve pedestrians, bicycle riders and non-roadworthy mobility scooters through our drive-through lanes. We can however serve customers on roadworthy mobility scooters but unfortunately, in this instance, staff did not recognise that the scooter was roadworthy. We apologise for the inconvenience this has caused."