Supermarket bans child trolleys

Russell Claydon

A SUFFOLK supermarket has taken the decision to ban a popular range of children's trolleys on grounds of health and safety.

Waitrose in Sudbury has angered some shoppers by withdrawing the mini-trolleys, which have been used for eight years, without explanation.

The trolleys have been taken out of action for a month's trial to gauge customer feedback, but the store would not say if there was an accident which caused the response or if the move was a reaction to complaints.

The Sudbury outlet is believed to be the only store under the John Lewis umbrella in Suffolk to have had child trolleys.

Sophia Hughes, a mother-of-two from Great Cornard, noticed the trolleys had been removed from the store on Wednesday - and was disappointed to be told they might not be coming back.

“I quite like to use them as a treat for my children,” she said. “It is hard work for parents to keep them in control but obviously you do it.

“I rang them up to find out why they had been taken away and they said they had had some complaints saying they were dangerous.

“It does seem like health and safety has gone mad. It is the parents that need to control the kids and those that are going to run riot will run riot anyway. Next they will be banning children.”

Another shopper, who did not wish to be named, said: “Sometimes your children get a bit carried away and whizz around a bit but I have never heard of any accidents and it seems like a great shame.

“It kept them entertained and gave the store a friendly face.”

A spokesperson for Waitrose in Sudbury declined to comment on why the trolleys had been removed from the store.

But Waitrose department manager Helen Hughes said: “We're currently in the middle of a one month trial period to gauge customer reaction to our children's trolleys.

“Once the trial is over, and we have collated all the feedback from our customers, we will decide whether or not to reintroduce the trolleys.”