Estate is a 'go' after ban lifted (From The Argus)

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Estate is a 'go' after ban lifted

5:05pm Wednesday 26th September 2007

comment Comments (44) Have your say »

By Lawrence Marzouk »

A major supermarket which stopped deliveries to a swathe of east Brighton after staff were attacked has agreed to start sending vans back to the area.

Residents in Whitehawk reacted furiously when bosses at the Brighton Marina Asda decided to halt home deliveries, with many claiming that they would not shop again at the superstore.

Asda remained committed to its no-go policy, saying that drivers were fearful after incidents of verbal abuse, stone throwing and even theft of shopping.

It was only the second time a ban had been imposed anywhere in the UK and many believed the decision reinforced outdated stereotypes about an area which had changed markedly.

But after a meeting between Sussex Police, city councillors, residents and Asda at the Whitehawk Crime Prevention Forum today, the supermarket has agreed to restart daytime deliveries in the near future.

East Brighton Councillor Warren Morgan, who chairs the forum, said: "I am very grateful to Asda for coming along to the meeting.

"We were able to clear the air, learn lessons from what happened and now I think we have resolved this issue to the satisfaction of everyone concerned.

"Asda is a part of the community in Whitehawk, with around half of their staff living in the area.

"Their staff safety is paramount, and it's also worth saying that Asda have supported community events such as our successful clean-up day in April."

Coun Morgan added that many residents felt the meeting had cleared the air and were happy to shop at the store again.

Inspector Steve Curry, responsible for policing East Brighton, said he was pleased with Asda's response and praised the firm for some of the work it does, including providing food for a community event earlier this year.

He added that he had been told the service had only been operating for a short period of time before it was stopped.

He said: "Home shopping is a new part of their service and when you have a new system there are going to be teething problems.

"Clearly residents are very happy that the service is back and it is particularly valuable to the elderly."

A spokeswoman for Asda said the firm would work closely with police in the future. She said: "We are happy that we cam resume this service.

"Our main concern is to ensure the safety of our staff.

"It is very unfair that we have been put in a position where they do not feel safe when they are at work."

Will you shop in Asda again after they lifted the Whitehawk ban? Tell us below.

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Your Say YourArgus

Bob, Brighton says...
5:16pm Wed 26 Sep 07

i'll go to asda still but i won't go to whitehawk.

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Louis, Brighton says...
5:36pm Wed 26 Sep 07

I simply do not see what the problem is.

People can either behave decently or they lose out.

Pilots fell to their deaths over Sussex so that we could have a decent country - and not a place overrun by Germans who would have behaved like those thugs attacking the ASDA drivers.

Report this post »

Woody, Brighton says...
5:36pm Wed 26 Sep 07

Glad to see that the Councillor is using what is now a familiar 'fall-back' position in common with politicians of all hues and other figures of authority (eg Police).

Anthing that goes wrong from rail crashes to shootings to withdrawing home-delivery by stores. 'Lessons must be learned'. Watch the TV, read newspapers, listen to the radio.

It's a constant get-out for people who have got it wrong and won't face the facts.

This is not a jibe at this present situation between Asda and Whitehawk, I just get sick of hearing the phrase and variations on it.

Report this post »

Dave, Hove says...
5:40pm Wed 26 Sep 07

We now await for more attacks on people going about daily work, cos' of a few spaced out chav mugs.

Report this post »

ray, kemptown says...
5:56pm Wed 26 Sep 07

no i will not be shoping at asda wether it be on line or instore.i have asked both tesco and sainsburys drivers if they have had any problems and the have both said no also i know that somerfield and iceland both deliver to whitehawk have they reported any problems .idon't think so.i will stay with tesco home shopping they have looked after me for the psat few years.it makes you wunder why it is only asda drvers. hey asda have you got an answer for that question.

Report this post »

You are, a RETARD says...
5:59pm Wed 26 Sep 07

ray wrote:
no i will not be shoping at asda wether it be on line or instore.i have asked both tesco and sainsburys drivers if they have had any problems and the have both said no also i know that somerfield and iceland both deliver to whitehawk have they reported any problems .idon't think so.i will stay with tesco home shopping they have looked after me for the psat few years.it makes you wunder why it is only asda drvers. hey asda have you got an answer for that question.

have you got a reason for spelling like a Whitehawkian?

Report this post »

Charlie Victor, Spyball says...
7:00pm Wed 26 Sep 07

I'll be keeping an eye on the chavs and will be swinging around and zooming in on them. (O)

Report this post »

peeroo, Worthing says...
7:35pm Wed 26 Sep 07

Come on everyone, lets be reasonable here. Whether you support ASDA's position or not, a few unruly people aside, there is no excuse for simply firing abuse at a whole area. Yes Whitehawk may be run down, but some people may still choose to stay there, and try to bring good upon the place, others may not have any choice, but to label everyone who lives there with abusive terms or names is surely unacceptable. Its like any other area of Britain, there are good and bad. Should the majority good suffer because of the minority bad and a few bigots?

Report this post »

Joe Bloggs, Brighton says...
7:43pm Wed 26 Sep 07

I don't know why some people (namely Ray below)think that Asda was in the wrong for stopping deliveries to Whitehawk. I would have also refused to deliver there if I had been pelted with stones and told to f-off. I live close enough to Whitehawk to hear your daughters staggering up the road in their tiny skirts with their bellies hanging out wearing cheap Argos bling shouting abuse to each other and strangers and to see you sons kicking over rubbish bins and motorbikes every Friday and Saturday night. You people have the collective IQ of a peanut. Shop elsewhere. We don't care.

Report this post »

ah, Brighton says...
8:56pm Wed 26 Sep 07

No surprise that Asda treat their customers almost as badly as they treat their staff...

Currently they are trying to force people who have been there 20+ years to now work bank holidays and weekends...

Report this post »

Cllr Warren Morgan, East Brighton says...
9:04pm Wed 26 Sep 07

Woody wrote:
Glad to see that the Councillor is using what is now a familiar 'fall-back' position in common with politicians of all hues and other figures of authority (eg Police). Anthing that goes wrong from rail crashes to shootings to withdrawing home-delivery by stores. 'Lessons must be learned'. Watch the TV, read newspapers, listen to the radio. It's a constant get-out for people who have got it wrong and won't face the facts. This is not a jibe at this present situation between Asda and Whitehawk, I just get sick of hearing the phrase and variations on it.

Fair point Woody on me using a politician's cliche - but the Asda store manager really did say that he had "learned lessons" from how he handled the issue - in terms of not reporting incidents to the police. This situation is not something I was responsible for (so don't see how I could have "got it wrong") but I've done my best to bring people together and try to resolve it, which is what the taxpayers expect from me I would hope.
Next time I give a quote to the media I will try to avoid this kind of "stock phrase" if I can.

Report this post »

Woody, Brighton says...
10:21pm Wed 26 Sep 07

Thanks for standing up, Councillor. Not a shot at you, it's just the triteness (is that a word?) of the 'lesson learning' cop-out.

People are paid, generally, to get things right in their work, be they Civil Servants, Politicians, Police or whatever. Of course, lessons must be learned when things go wrong, but it comes across as if the first time round it's all a bit of a practice run.

Thanks for the reply, just getting the bee out of my bonnet. It's not especially related to the Asda/Whitehawk situation and I'm sure all involved are doing it all with everybody's best ineterests at heart in that particular case.

Report this post »

Al, Brighton says...
10:27pm Wed 26 Sep 07

So a supermarket expecting their staff to work weekends and bank holidays? What the time when most of us shop. What ever next? If you don't want to work the hours people shop then work in an office you lazy b@Stards

Report this post »

Dave, Whitehawk says...
2:18am Thu 27 Sep 07

Thanks again councillor Morgan for your hard work for the people of this area.As you know yourself 90% of the people in Whitehawk are good people,you yourself have done many good things to make this a nice place to live and work.But the prejudice some people hold on here for the people of Whitehawk does very little to help the young people in the area looking for work.Most of the worst crime is in Hangleton,and Portslade,but nothing gets said about them as scum.

Report this post »

Flat Foot Soozie, Brunswick Square says...
7:49am Thu 27 Sep 07

Cllr Warren Morgan wrote:

Woody wrote:
Glad to see that the Councillor is using what is now a familiar \'fall-back\' position in common with politicians of all hues and other figures of authority (eg Police). Anthing that goes wrong from rail crashes to shootings to withdrawing home-delivery by stores. \'Lessons must be learned\'. Watch the TV, read newspapers, listen to the radio. It\'s a constant get-out for people who have got it wrong and won\'t face the facts. This is not a jibe at this present situation between Asda and Whitehawk, I just get sick of hearing the phrase and variations on it.
Fair point Woody on me using a politician\'s cliche - but the Asda store manager really did say that he had \"learned lessons\" from how he handled the issue - in terms of not reporting incidents to the police. This situation is not something I was responsible for (so don\'t see how I could have \"got it wrong\") but I\'ve done my best to bring people together and try to resolve it, which is what the taxpayers expect from me I would hope.
Next time I give a quote to the media I will try to avoid this kind of \"stock phrase\" if I can.

Perhaps there will now be thugs in Whitehawk who say, after bashing someone up, "sorry about that, mate, I'm on a learning curve!"

Report this post »

me, here says...
9:22am Thu 27 Sep 07

well i shop at asda every week , but they wont deliver to my house........
i checked on their website and entered my post code, but it says it isnt available..... why does whitehawk get all the deliveries?

Report this post »

ah, brighton says...
9:30am Thu 27 Sep 07

Al wrote:
So a supermarket expecting their staff to work weekends and bank holidays? What the time when most of us shop. What ever next? If you don't want to work the hours people shop then work in an office you lazy b@Stards

Al,
I do work in an cushy office job. Your few braincells seem to have missed my point...

However, a friend of mine who has worked regular 9-5 Mon-Fri contracted hours is being forced to change - I'm sure you would be upset if you were being forced to change your contract after 20 yrs. I bet you then squeal and cry foul play...

Walmart are reknowned for their poor treatment of staff and this seems to then reflect on how they treat their customers.

Report this post »

P, Brigthon says...
9:46am Thu 27 Sep 07

I fully support the chavs in Whitehalk. How dare Asda think they can deliver to Whitehalk just because they are paid to do so. It's another outrageous case of corporate imperialism if you ask me.

Report this post »

P, BN says...
9:48am Thu 27 Sep 07

You are wrote:

ray wrote:
no i will not be shoping at asda wether it be on line or instore.i have asked both tesco and sainsburys drivers if they have had any problems and the have both said no also i know that somerfield and iceland both deliver to whitehawk have they reported any problems .idon't think so.i will stay with tesco home shopping they have looked after me for the psat few years.it makes you wunder why it is only asda drvers. hey asda have you got an answer for that question.
have you got a reason for spelling like a Whitehawkian?

Spelling fashist

Report this post »

Dave, Hove says...
9:55am Thu 27 Sep 07

ah wrote:
No surprise that Asda treat their customers almost as badly as they treat their staff... Currently they are trying to force people who have been there 20+ years to now work bank holidays and weekends...

Really, oh thats soooo bad isnt it. Having to work a weekend in a shop that is open 24hrs a day, 7 days pw. What next, can you start at 8.30am please...??

Report this post »

Change, Happens says...
10:28am Thu 27 Sep 07

ah wrote:
No surprise that Asda treat their customers almost as badly as they treat their staff...

Currently they are trying to force people who have been there 20+ years to now work bank holidays and weekends...

it's called Staff Flexibility. You work for the store, they don't work for you. If you don't like it, get out. Regardless of your time with a company, they are there to make money. All companies do this. If you want to shop at a weekend or bank holiday, and I bet you do (if you say you don't, you're a liar), then you need the staff. Rather than employ more, a company will save money by using current staff and therefore pass the savings on to you, the customer who demanded to get his smartprice baked beans on a bank holiday Monday.

Report this post »

L, Kemptown says...
10:38am Thu 27 Sep 07

Change wrote:

ah wrote: No surprise that Asda treat their customers almost as badly as they treat their staff... Currently they are trying to force people who have been there 20+ years to now work bank holidays and weekends...
it's called Staff Flexibility. You work for the store, they don't work for you. If you don't like it, get out. Regardless of your time with a company, they are there to make money. All companies do this. If you want to shop at a weekend or bank holiday, and I bet you do (if you say you don't, you're a liar), then you need the staff. Rather than employ more, a company will save money by using current staff and therefore pass the savings on to you, the customer who demanded to get his smartprice baked beans on a bank holiday Monday.

It's bullying of staff who are on Mon-Fri contracts.

Fair enough, if you take up a job knowing that hours of work are flexible. However if you are on an old time contract this is not the case. You have family commitments etc etc and should not have to work non-contracted hours.

However these staff are being intimidated and bullied into signing new style contracts...

Report this post »

Stuart, Southampton says...
11:34am Thu 27 Sep 07

Rather than bullying the employees, Asda should just excercise there right to change the contracts by giving official written notice of change. This may take up to 3 months, but the ones that are not wiling to change will then be making themselves unemployed and then will not be able to claim any financial support. That will scare the bejesus out of 90% of Whitehawk. Imagine not getting the cheque from the social.

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AD, Hove says...
11:56am Thu 27 Sep 07

Stuart wrote:
Rather than bullying the employees, Asda should just excercise there right to change the contracts by giving official written notice of change. This may take up to 3 months, but the ones that are not wiling to change will then be making themselves unemployed and then will not be able to claim any financial support. That will scare the bejesus out of 90% of Whitehawk. Imagine not getting the cheque from the social.

Staff can then claim breach of contract and constructive dismissal, then claim Legal aid to take asda to court.

Hence the Asda bullying approach to try and aviod this

Report this post »

ComradeK, hard at work says...
12:37pm Thu 27 Sep 07

I'm rather surprised at the number of people supporting the bullying bosses at Asda.

This is a company reknowned for attacking staff and cutting pay, conditions, pensions, holiday entitlement, etc. No one wants to be earning less year on year while working more and more, do they? Especially as this is how the rich are getting richer in this country while getting out of paying taxes. Working class people aren't stupid?

Next you'll be complaining that all the staff are 'foreign' because they'll be the only ones who'll be desperate enough to except the poor, short term, 'flexible' job contract. Who'll be the hypocrit then?

Plus, this is a company that is owned by Walmart who sell GUNS in their shops!

Report this post »

Adam, Brighton says...
2:14pm Thu 27 Sep 07

Anyone see the lengthy Walmart documentary recently? If you did are you surprised as the way ASDA is starting to behave in the UK now?

A solution : build the next Asda *IN* Whitehawk then the people there don't need to come out. They can go buy their nylon tracksuits, luncheon meat and swear at their kids in public all without being away from their TV for too long.

PS can the adults who write these comments please learn the different uses of "there" "their" and "they're". You've had decades since you left school to spend 1/2 an evening going back over this - isn't it about time you sorted this out?

Report this post »

Make it Happen, NOW says...
2:34pm Thu 27 Sep 07

Speaking of ASBO teens;

http://petitions.pm.
gov.uk/minorsassuspe
cts/

Report this post »

Dave, Hove says...
3:18pm Thu 27 Sep 07

it will be quiet for delivery today, all the chavs and kids pushing prams are gettin amongst it at the VIP opening of Primark.

Report this post »

Flat Foot Soozie, Brunswick Square says...
3:22pm Thu 27 Sep 07

When the van did visit Whitehawk it was full of
SMASH potato and GO cat food

Report this post »

ComradeK, hard at work says...
3:28pm Thu 27 Sep 07

and then with stupid comments like this you guys wonder why you get knifed by them and have your TVs nicked, rubbished dumped on your drive, beaten up at night, etc? Idiots.

Report this post »

Jez, London says...
3:29pm Thu 27 Sep 07

Why don't you sad little mugs leave the people of Whitehawk alone.My company has done a lot of work in the area,but all my staff find the people there ok.Its the rest of you,that may need to take a good look at yourselfs.

Report this post »

ComeradeK, Hawk says...
3:49pm Thu 27 Sep 07

Sorry me again. I am a ****. Sorry to go on all the time about politics.

Report this post »

Jez, London says...
4:30pm Thu 27 Sep 07

ComradeK wrote:
and then with stupid comments like this you guys wonder why you get knifed by them and have your TVs nicked, rubbished dumped on your drive, beaten up at night, etc? Idiots.

You obviously know their favourite pastimes then.

List these with Jeremy Kyle, waiting for dole cheques and pirecing babies ears and you nearly have the full set

Report this post »

Pete Doherty, Swanborough flats says...
9:43pm Thu 27 Sep 07

Nuffin wrong with the Hawk.I get loads of gear here,and I love birds with fat bellys and tramp stamps.So what if they all wear fake Burberry and drink white lightening?I like the smell of urine in the lifts.One day Whitehawk will be the Mayfair of Brighton.Allright I know it already is cos all the birds love showing their minges and tits,but i'm here to help.I mean help the dealers sell their gear.Everyone has to earn a living you know.I'm waiting for the Asda guy.Gonna kick his arse and put it on U-Tube.

Report this post »

Justin, Mile Oak says...
11:07pm Thu 27 Sep 07

Dave wrote:
Thanks again councillor Morgan for your hard work for the people of this area.As you know yourself 90% of the people in Whitehawk are good people,you yourself have done many good things to make this a nice place to live and work.But the prejudice some people hold on here for the people of Whitehawk does very little to help the young people in the area looking for work.Most of the worst crime is in Hangleton,and Portslade,but nothing gets said about them as scum.

How very true Dave, Most of the worst crime is in Hangleton and Portslade, don't forget to mention Mile Oak while you are at it. Now lets look at all this crime in these areas....mmmmm Oh yes I know, could it be that the Number 1 runs around there and where does the Number 1 run from? Whitehawk!!

Maybe Asda could deliver to Whitehawk when the chavs are over in Portslade.

By the way, why does Portslade Community College (PCC) have about 38 places for the children of Whitehawk to go to? is it because no other school will have them after they have been excluded from all the other schools in the area.

Excluded my arse, are head teachers afraid of expelling children now, is it again their human rights or something? might give them a complex when they grow up...

BTW there are some decent people living in Hangleton/Portslade as well as Whitehawk, use a smaller brush when you start tarring the folk of Brighton please.

Report this post »

B. BANDIDO, HOVE says...
11:16pm Thu 27 Sep 07

ComradeK wrote:
and then with stupid comments like this you guys wonder why you get knifed by them and have your TVs nicked, rubbished dumped on your drive, beaten up at night, etc? Idiots.

You are presuming they can read.

Report this post »

Dan, Norwood says...
2:32am Fri 28 Sep 07

By going on here i can see most of you Hove mugs care more about haveing a go at the nice people of Whitehawk,than you do that joke of a football team you have down there.

Report this post »

PETER TAYLOR, HOVE says...
5:32am Fri 28 Sep 07

The football team have not played in Hove for over ten years,get you're facts right mug.

Report this post »

Brian Clough, Derby says...
6:03am Fri 28 Sep 07

PETER TAYLOR wrote:
The football team have not played in Hove for over ten years,get you're facts right mug.

Thats why the club are changing their name to 'Brighton and Falmer Albion'....

Report this post »

ARSENAL5derby0, HOVE says...
6:26am Fri 28 Sep 07

Brian Clough wrote:

PETER TAYLOR wrote: The football team have not played in Hove for over ten years,get you're facts right mug.
Thats why the club are changing their name to 'Brighton and Falmer Albion'....

Try to understand the debate.

Report this post »

Jonathan, Sheffield says...
2:39pm Fri 28 Sep 07

People at work are often abuse both verbally and physically and it is unacceptable.

If ASDA staff are expected to go back into the area they should be provided with a safety solution that covers all areas of abuse.

If something happened to one of their employees they would be the ones who were prosecuted for failing to provide a Duty of Care.

There are solutions that ASDA could provide it's employees with however such as:

www.peoplesafe.co.uk

Report this post »

Dan, Norwood says...
6:59pm Fri 28 Sep 07

You Hove mugs are so full of yourself.If you people ever went outside your little town,you would see Whitehawk is not a bad area,in fact half of it is private.I have a friend in Whitehawk who was in the army 21 years,i asked him if he found it bad in anyway,and told me it was much more unsafe in town,or out in Hove late at night.Plus he said a good 95% of the people work.I can say every time iv been there iv found the people ok.You people just think your so much better than them because you have money,which in most cases mummy & daddy gave you in the first place.

Report this post »

Dave, Brighton says...
7:07pm Fri 28 Sep 07

Spot on Dan.Western road in Hove is full of Scum most nights.Plus look at the trouble they get at that pub at Portslade station.I worked nights as a taxi driver once,and find the people of Whitehawk more than ok,better than some of the scum out in Hove.

Report this post »

Rachel, Whitehawk says...
10:28pm Sat 29 Sep 07

i live inwhitehawk and i still shop at asda even though the there was a ban,now it has been lifted it just means i havent got to take my 3 year old shopping while she crie round asda asking if we are done yet,

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