Abandoned Shopping Trolleys
Created by VGresidentThis week has seen at least 3 shopping trolleys abandoned in the road in Valley Gardens – either by kids or socially irresponsible adults (does nobody care enough these days to challenge people taking trolleys away from stores)?
I’ve seen 2 from Matalan and one from Tesco.
Why Tesco and Matalan haven’t adopted Aldi’s policy of using coin-deposit locks on their trolleys remains a mystery. Shopping trolleys aren’t cheap by all accounts, and it obviously costs the stores money to retrieve them if they’re stolen and taken away from the store – yes, the theft of a shopping trolley from a store is a crime.
These recovery / replacement costs are reflected in the prices we all pay in the stores – so it’s in everyone’s interest either to stop trolleys from being stolen or to let the stores know if their trolleys have been left abandoned.
Community Support Officers used to be a common sight in Kingsway a couple of years ago and presumably acted as a deterrent to people stealing trolleys.
Nowadays they’ve become much rarer, so I guess it’s up to all of us to do our bit to keep Kingsway clean and safe.
For information, the numbers you can call to report abandoned trolleys are:
Tesco: 0845 677 9567
Matalan: 0845 330 3330
…and the stores will send someone to collect them.
If enough of us ask the stores to do something about it and install coin deposit locks on their trolleys, we may see an end to abandoned trolleys littering the roads and pavements in Kingsway.
Remember – it could be your car that bumps into one unexpectedly left in the road one dark morning…
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on Monday, February 15th, 2010 at 2:53 pm
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February 15th, 2010 at 5:04 pm
Hi VGresident,
Yep, it’s annoying for sure… The problem was also discussed previously:
Trolleys and Recyling Bins (October 7th, 2008)
Keeping up Appearances (October 26th, 2008)
…so is obviously a concern to many villagers.
Thanks for the article and – in particular – for posting the relevant telehone numbers; I’ve added them to our Local Contacts & Services Page
February 26th, 2010 at 5:13 pm
VGResident,
Rather than ring Tesco or Matalan direct, Kingsway residents may prefer to call the City Council helpline on 01452 396396. Not only will this allow the Council to monitor abandoned trolley problem areas, they will also arrange with the stores concerned to have them collected.
I agree that abandoned shopping trolleys are becoming an eyesore that needs attention, so it was pleasing to see that the one I noted yesterday in Valley Gardens had gone when I returned this afternoon.
Fred Wood, Conservative City Council Candidate Field Court Ward
February 27th, 2010 at 9:49 am
Hi Fred, thanks for that information.
It does make sense to have one number, as long as it is efficient.
I’m sure Clive will add this number to the local contacts page.
It would be interesting to know how the statistics stack up that the council collect.
Barry
February 28th, 2010 at 5:49 pm
Hi Folks,
Thanks for the info’… I’ve added the number.
March 4th, 2010 at 11:33 am
I’ve telephoned Tesco in the past who have come to collect them, however I have also phone Matalan several times and – in the end, was glad to see that some kids had pushed it down the road just so that it wasn’t outside our house!
I know that’s not the right way of thinking, and I often wondered why people don’t care about the area in which they live, I used to think if we don’t care who will? Unfortunately I’ve resigned myself to the fact that some people around here actually couldn’t care less!
I regret moving here and can’t wait to leave! Yes every area has their issues, but Kingsway seems to have more than most.
I have had my car vandalised, people keep letting their dogs do their business all over our front lawn (I blame the owners not the dogs) and we’ve come to the conclusion that this estate is not going to be one that we want to live on. It’s a shame because it had a lot of potential.
Sadly I’m sick of seeing the typical chavs, walking their staff’s through the childrens play area (which is for children), and the broken glass everywhere that no one wants to clean up!
March 8th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
I’ve written a long email to our “local councillors” moaning about everything you mention Win and more… no reply so far, but it made me feel a bit better. I am infuriated by the state of Kingsway and the lack of responsibility being taken because it hasn’t been adopted by the council yet. We’re living in a No Man’s Land. I’m seriously considering moving too (I am full rent-paying HA but, low cost housing or not, I don’t feel that this is the place I want to bring my son up anymore).
March 15th, 2010 at 11:27 am
I was walking back home from Tesco this morning, when I noticed a woman and her – I’m assuming – son, pushing a trolley full of shopping behind me. When they got to the underpass (bus only route) they got their bags out of the trolley and dumped it on the grass area (where there was already a dumped trolley).
I noticed which house she went in, and it was just down a little passageway on the right-hand side after you come through the underpass. No idea what road this is, as I couldnt see a road name, and it had no access to vehicles, but I know the house number.
Can we do anything to report specific people for doing this kind of thing? If so, please let me know, and I’ll do it. I’m certainly getting on the phone to Tesco to report it (so they can pick them up), and will tell them where the person lives, if they can do anything about it.
March 18th, 2010 at 9:41 am
I’ve spoken to Tesco this morning as there is another one dumped near my house (and I live nowhere close to Tesco really). They’re coming to collect it.
Apparently they are looking into adding the pound coin locks to their trolleys in an attempt to stop people stealing and dumping them. I will continue to press them on it until it actually happens!!
March 18th, 2010 at 11:25 am
TinktoTonk
Have you tried ringing the council number as suggested above:
If so, did you have any success?
March 19th, 2010 at 10:06 am
Hi Baz_k
I spoke to The Council this morning about it. They told me that as they’ve not adopted the road yet, they couldn’t do anything about it. I argued the case, but they said it was the responsibilty of QUVL and I should call them on 01179016400.
I also talked to them about the trolleys by the underpass.
They said all they can do is report it to the supermarket, who have a responsibility to pick it up. I mentioned that I witnessed a women dumping a trolley by the underpass and had her address, but there is nothing they can do about residents dumping trolleys, as it’s the responsibility of the supermarket.
I’m going to Tesco this morning and will bring it up with the Manager – need to keep the pressure up for them to do something!