Squaring up to Tesco

TESCO could be hit with trolley charges as a councillor makes a stand against the retail giant.

Baldock councillor Michael Muir is tired of trolleys scattered about the town and plans to get sub-contractors to pick them up and sell them back to Tesco.

Cllr Muir said: "I've suggested we use the sub contractors who empty the bins. They will charge for it and they will then be sold back to Tesco including the cost, profit and their time.

"A small trolley would cost around £100 and a large trolley, £190.

"If we pick up 40 of them in one fell swoop, that's going to cost them an awful lot of money."

Cllr Muir believes the current service by Tesco is not good enough.

He said: "I became a councillor in 1991 and that was one of the first things that was said to me back then. In the last 10 years it's got worse and worse."

Liz Green, community officer at North Herts District Council, said: "Under the Clean Neighbourhood Act we can exert those powers if we want to.

"We can charge Tesco to have the trolleys returned to them. It is one option we are looking at."

A spokesman for Tesco's said: "I'm not going to comment on individuals' comments. We maintain that we do all we can to collect trolleys."

Baldock councillor Ian Knighton has also spoken out about the trolley issue.

He said: "It's an ongoing problem. The main areas are the estate at the back of Tesco and also Avenue Park. They do send a chap out to collect them, but I think it's once in a blue moon."

He has suggested having trolleys where the user gets their pound coin back when they turn them in. But he said: "Tesco have refused to consider that.

"The feedback I've had from managers is that they don't see it as a major problem. They won't invest in putting the paid trolleys in place.

"Baldock is a very nice town and Tesco is a very big part of that. I think they should contribute towards keeping the town tidy.