CALLS have sounded to clear the “disgusting” delivery area of a British retailer after Bucks residents said they were “shell shocked” by the amount of rubbish left to build up there.
Locals have criticised WHSmith after discovering piles of discarded waste strewn about the delivery bay at the rear of its high street shop, in Aylesbury.
Images of the retailer’s private staff parking area show empty bottles and crushed cans amid containers, a wooden crate, and a large electrical appliance.
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The matter was brought to light on social media, on December 27.
Since then, people have described the scene as “nothing short of disgraceful”, with one advising the retailer to ensure its other shops are not in the same condition.
“@WHSmith your delivery area at the back of your Aylesbury town centre store is nothing short of disgraceful,” wrote a commenter. “I’m shell shocked that this is in the state it’s in.”
Someone else replied saying: “To be honest @WHSmith you really ought to be ashamed of yourself and as for the store manager [they] need a good talking to.
“How on earth can your store get to be so…disgusting. Just [because] it’s out the back does not make it OK. Disgraceful. Check your other stores too please.”
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Another person wrote: “I did notice that last week, but I didn’t know it was @WHSmith – thought it was [an] abandoned shop.”
Yet another Twitter user wrote: “Shocking.”
In response, a spokesperson for WHSmith said: “Our Aylesbury store is liaising with local authorities and property services to resolve an ongoing community issue with littering in the store’s delivery bay; we are in the process of arranging for the rubbish to be cleared as soon as possible.”
Bill Chapple, environment and climate change cabinet member, said: “Any waste that comes from a commercial activity is known as commercial waste. Councils have no duty to dispose of commercial waste for free.
"However, we are keen to see that all commercial waste is managed responsibly. We cannot comment on individual cases, but would urge all businesses to keep waste to a minimum by doing everything reasonably possible to prevent, reuse, recycle or recover their waste.
“Businesses can get help and advice to do this, including registering with the council’s commercial waste collection service, by visiting our website.”
We’ve launched a new Facebook group for local news junkies, politics fans and everyone who wants to keep up to date with the latest issues affecting Aylesbury. Please join the conversation over at Buckinghamshire Politics
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