Palmerston North police have spoken to Wendy's management after receiving a complaint about its staff standing on the road to direct motorists visiting the fast food restaurant.

Residents clamouring to try the restaurant's wares have boosted traffic levels near the site, on the corner of Rangitikei St and Argyle Ave, since it opened its doors on Monday.

Confusion between motorists wanting to use the drive-through window or eat in the restaurant has led to Wendy's posting staff members in the car park to marshall traffic.

Staff have been asking drivers to park down the street if eating in, and waving drivers in and out of the car park.

Constable Warwick Denby said police visited the site yesterday to talk to management after someone complained about staff standing on the road.

They were free to do what they wanted in the car park, but could not direct traffic on the road, he said.

"I've raised the issue with Wendy's and spoke to the CEO and raised the point with him."

Mr Denby said the traffic was bad at present, but would probably taper off.

In the meantime, he asked motorists to be patient.

"If you want a burger that much, just park down the road and walk to it."

Wendy's human resources manager, Kathy Matthews, said the company was doing its best to keep the area safe.

"We're worried about people crashing into each other.

"They're queuing on to Rangitikei St, which is a very busy street, and people don't always see that people have stopped."

Peter Day Motors owner Peter Day, whose business is across the road from Wendy's, said the traffic was not too bad.

"It's not like people are arriving at Wendy's at high speed, and those coming on Argyle Ave are slowing down for the corner.

"To me, there's more safety issues going into McDonald's on Featherston St, and ... the city has learned to live with that one."

- © Fairfax NZ News