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Supermarket snubs community
9:18am Tuesday 11th September 2007
A swathe of east Brighton has been declared a no-go zone by a major supermarket chain which is refusing to deliver shopping to homes after staff were attacked.
An area covering all of Whitehawk and stretching to Bristol Gardens, in Kemp Town, no longer receives deliveries from Asda because the supermarket is worried about its drivers' safety.
The retailer has refused to reveal details of the incidents other than to say it had involved "abusive behaviour towards staff".
Asda delivers to homes across the country, including notorious crime hotspots in Manchester's Moss Side and Liverpool's Croxteth estates.
And a spokesman for Britain's second largest supermarket chain said it had only banned deliveries to two other places in the country in the last seven years.
But the move has been attacked by residents in the blacklisted area who say they are being victimised because of the faults of the few.
An employee at the Brighton Marina branch, which is responsible for dispatching online orders for the city, admitted she was shocked by the decision.
She said: "Three or four staff at the store cannot have things delivered to their homes and I do not think it is right."
Dawn Newcomb, 49, of Whitehawk Way, is a regular customer at the store and said she felt it was unfair the whole area was being tarred with the same brush She said: "The majority of people who live close to us are very nice people.
"I think this is a bit over the top and think we get punished for living in Whitehawk."
Whitehawk is one of the most deprived areas of the country and has a high proportion of disabled and elderly residents.
But crime has been falling and ward councillor Gill Mitchell said it was a quickly-improving area of the city.
She said: "I understand that Asda have got their staff to think about.
"It is really regrettable that residents are being inconvenienced because of the mindless behaviour of a few individuals.
"I hope that this will be dealt with as quickly as possible."
A 76-year-old woman from Roedean Road, who asked not named, tried to order some shopping from Asda after leaving hospital but was told the store would not deliver.
She said: "The drivers should be able to go about their work without being attacked but it is a problem for me and must be very difficult for the disabled.
"I do think they are being over cautious."
Maxwell Vaughan has been left housebound by criminals who stole his electric buggy from outside his house in Cooksbridge Road, Brighton.
The disabled former chairman of Whitehawk Residents Association said: "Whitehawk has one of the biggest number of disabled people in all of the south and my honest opinion is that they are breaking the discrimination act."
A spokesman for ASDA said there was no time frame for when deliveries would recommence but added some areas may receive shopping before others and that night-time visits to some districts could stop altogether.
He said: "Home shopping is an important part of our offering and we are disappointed we have had to suspend service but we take the welfare of our staff very seriously and we had to put this suspension in place and review our next steps.
"We are not saying that we will never go there again but we have to ask what risk there may be to staff."
Have you been affected by the ban? Call the newsdesk on 01273 544519, email news@theargus.co.uk or leave your comments below.
Your Say YourArgus
Jim, Brighton says...
7:50am Tue 11 Sep 07
999, here says...
8:03am Tue 11 Sep 07
Anyone thought of trying Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury, etc.?
Frank, kemp town says...
8:13am Tue 11 Sep 07
Mohamed Al Fayed, KNIGHTSBRIDGE SW1.London says...
8:20am Tue 11 Sep 07
Please note that my shop will still deliver to you.
I look forward to your custom.
Mohamed Al Fayed
ron, Brighton says...
8:24am Tue 11 Sep 07
Paul, Brighton Seafront says...
8:25am Tue 11 Sep 07
There is no use the residents complaining about it and being 'tarred with the same brush'. No one should be forced to worked in a position where they face being attacked. Perhaps, the residents can form together to address the problem and convince that it is safe to deliver.
h, east brighton says...
8:27am Tue 11 Sep 07
Andrew, Patcham says...
9:28am Tue 11 Sep 07
"Three or four staff at the store cannot have things delivered to their homes and I do not think it is right."
If you work at the store, why don't you take your shopping home with you, rather than increasing carbon emissions by having it delivered?
Ron, Brighton says...
9:35am Tue 11 Sep 07
Stroller, Hove says...
9:38am Tue 11 Sep 07
If you are being assaulted, it is no consolation to think that other people are not assaulting you.
A neighbourhod is defined by the lowest element.
LB, Hove says...
9:49am Tue 11 Sep 07
They'll attack anything, apparently, which rather proves Asda's point...
A Gold, Brighton says...
10:29am Tue 11 Sep 07
'Tough on crime' my ar5e
Marc, Brighton, the nice part says...
11:42am Tue 11 Sep 07
me, Brighton says...
11:57am Tue 11 Sep 07
watchulookinat, Moulsecomb says...
12:14pm Tue 11 Sep 07
How many packets of Turkey Twizzlers and cans of White Lightning do you want?
Ron, Brighton says...
12:19pm Tue 11 Sep 07
The only group of workers who should be excluded from these rules are the police and troops
Ade, Shoreham says...
12:21pm Tue 11 Sep 07
me wrote:The scum are still in bed when the postmen come and the meter readers don't carry anything worth nicking.
The drivers could be attacked wherever they deliver to. Its terrible to alienate an entire area when only a few (who can be found anywhere) have caused the trouble. Its a risk that is taken everyday by postmen, meter readers etc.
oiyou, marina says...
12:34pm Tue 11 Sep 07
me, Withdean says...
12:48pm Tue 11 Sep 07
Moose, Brighton says...
12:56pm Tue 11 Sep 07
Asda are just protecting their staff and you can't have a pop at them for that.
The problem lies with the people, not the supermarket.
They'll just have to order from somewhere else won't they....
Flat Foot Soozie, Brunswick Square says...
1:19pm Tue 11 Sep 07
Now, there's an eye-caching idea, Ron, which would do more for Whitehawk than EB4U. The Army delivering groceries to Whitehawk while, all around, there is the sound of gunfire. One can just see a General on the News: "We thought that Bhagdad had prepared us for anything, but this is really hairy!"
It just goes to show the way in which some people drag down a whole area - look at those Clarendon slackers always moaning about their bathrooms and living on take aways and not cleaning the kitrhen.
A, Hove says...
2:32pm Tue 11 Sep 07
me wrote:Greedy store taking it's neighbours money? What is it supposed to do, give away money to it's neighbours? It's a supermarket not a charity. By banning specific address you don't stop random abuse from people in the street do you? Why should they have to hire big burley (sic) men? Why should those people have to take a risk, being big doesn't always mean you avoid trouble.
Im sure many of Brighton Marina's store customers come from the Kemptown/Whitehawk area as it is right next door! I suppose as long as the greedy store can take its neighbours money in some way. This store isn't weak and helpless, their money must mean power. Just hire big burley delivery drivers and lay on extra security if worried or if attending a difficult household. Blacklist delivery addresses, not the area! Feel sorry for those that are housebound. Terrible customer service.
Ade, Shoreham says...
2:35pm Tue 11 Sep 07
Paul, Brighton Seafront says...
2:37pm Tue 11 Sep 07
The two ladies in the photo look as if they could do with some much needed exercise.
Slimboy Fat, Brighton says...
2:46pm Tue 11 Sep 07
Ade wrote:Quite right - but rather the bag than me!
Wouldn't harm those two in the picture to go without their food shopping for a week or two. And as for taking your anger out on an Asda carrier bag, that's not very environmentally friendly is it?
JudgeDread, here21 says...
3:00pm Tue 11 Sep 07
Bob, Hove says...
3:05pm Tue 11 Sep 07
Sue, Brighton says...
3:09pm Tue 11 Sep 07
worker, Brighton says...
3:10pm Tue 11 Sep 07
LIDLahoy, Brighton says...
3:35pm Tue 11 Sep 07
Moose, Brighton says...
3:59pm Tue 11 Sep 07
this would prompt the rest of the blacklisted street to make a note of who the troublemakers are,and then report them to the police,might even instill some community spirit into the place!
BUAHAHAHA
Have you ever BEEN to Whitehawk?
Reporting the trouble makers to the police is a novel idea....
Councillor Warren Morgan, East Brighton says...
4:06pm Tue 11 Sep 07
Ron, Brighton says...
4:16pm Tue 11 Sep 07
Baz, East brigton says...
4:31pm Tue 11 Sep 07
You have a problem and I agree you(council) proberbley have caused it by being soft! you wont sort whitehawk by demanding to know why a private company wont deliver to a dumping ground that you have created
sm, says...
4:36pm Tue 11 Sep 07
Pretty much all of Sh*tehawk then.
Flat Foot Soozie, Brunswick Square says...
4:45pm Tue 11 Sep 07
I can't see Asda being interested by the Crime Forum. All it takes is for people to stop the assaults. Nothing else counts.
F, MRA, Hove says...
5:42pm Tue 11 Sep 07
Deatched Observer, Worthing says...
7:11pm Tue 11 Sep 07
Louis, Brighton says...
7:44pm Tue 11 Sep 07
Deatched Observer wrote:Observer is certainly Detached from a sense of humour.
People do have prejudiced views about their fellow Brighton residents. Other people see this whole debate as a opportunity to take the p---. Bearing in mind that these are people, you might meet on the bus, pub. most of these people won't be wearing signs identifying them as "Hawkers". I am not sure that debate says more about the contributors than the contributed on
I was once on a bus which had begun its route in Whitehawk, and said to somebody how good of these girls to take their brothers and sisters out for the day, off their mothers' hands, and I was told, "they're the mothers!"
Albert, says...
7:47pm Tue 11 Sep 07
Ken, Over there says...
7:51pm Tue 11 Sep 07
caeos, says...
8:10pm Tue 11 Sep 07
Get Real, brighton says...
8:25pm Tue 11 Sep 07
daryl, moulescomb says...
9:04pm Tue 11 Sep 07
Me, Withdean says...
9:46pm Tue 11 Sep 07
daryl, moulescomb says...
9:49pm Tue 11 Sep 07
gf, worthing says...
9:50pm Tue 11 Sep 07
at least then the people who have to live in these areas who are law abiding can then still recieve there groceries???????????
??
Ron, Brighton says...
9:57pm Tue 11 Sep 07
asda worker, whitehawk says...
11:11pm Tue 11 Sep 07
Liam, Brighton says...
11:17pm Tue 11 Sep 07
The facts speak for themselves. We delivered to Whitehawk for two weeks, in that two weeks two drivers were attacked and another had some shopping stolen. Outside Whitehawk, in the three months or so that we have been operating, we have only had one minor theft. Co-incidence? I think not.
It is the minority spoiling it for the majority, but at the end of the day our safety has to be priority. And for me mere £6.28 an hour, I'm not putting myself in any danger whatsoever.
Realist, Hove { actually} says...
11:23pm Tue 11 Sep 07
Louis wrote:You can always tell a well brought up 12 year old whitehawk girl, she never smokes or swears in front of her kids!
Deatched Observer wrote: People do have prejudiced views about their fellow Brighton residents. Other people see this whole debate as a opportunity to take the p---. Bearing in mind that these are people, you might meet on the bus, pub. most of these people won't be wearing signs identifying them as "Hawkers". I am not sure that debate says more about the contributors than the contributed onObserver is certainly Detached from a sense of humour. I was once on a bus which had begun its route in Whitehawk, and said to somebody how good of these girls to take their brothers and sisters out for the day, off their mothers' hands, and I was told, "they're the mothers!"
Dave, Whitehawk says...
1:14am Wed 12 Sep 07
gf, worthing says...
8:29am Wed 12 Sep 07
Ron wrote:Actually the contractors are paid by the job and on double attendance they quite often make a loss on the job but they do it for the tenants. like the Wal-mart group can't afford to double up on staff on one van?
Why should they double up on delivery staff? Mears and Kier can do this because the coucil and ultimatly us have to pay them to do it, who's going to pay ASDA to double up on staff just to visit this area?, not the whitehawk residents, Im sure
Rick H, Hove says...
9:21am Wed 12 Sep 07
Liam wrote:And here we have it from the horse's mouth (so to speak). ASDA are correct in their actions, by protecting their staff. About time the 'community' (seeing as some many Whitehawk residents claim there is a community spirit) to rally round and regain the trust of ASDA and its staff.
I am one of the drivers at ASDA. Now, until you have personally experienced what it is like to deliver to some back street in deepest darkest Whitehawk at 9pm on a Friday night, don't come moaning to us. Trust me, it is a f***ing scary experience. The facts speak for themselves. We delivered to Whitehawk for two weeks, in that two weeks two drivers were attacked and another had some shopping stolen. Outside Whitehawk, in the three months or so that we have been operating, we have only had one minor theft. Co-incidence? I think not. It is the minority spoiling it for the majority, but at the end of the day our safety has to be priority. And for me mere £6.28 an hour, I'm not putting myself in any danger whatsoever.
Paul, Brighton Seafront says...
10:35am Wed 12 Sep 07
caeos wrote:That would isolate the whole estate! Now there's an idea!
theyll be stopping the buses next. then how will they get into the marina
Stroller, Hove says...
12:31pm Wed 12 Sep 07
Kathleen McMullen, Hove says...
2:27pm Wed 12 Sep 07
Dave, Whitehawk docks (Thre Marina) says...
2:48pm Wed 12 Sep 07
richie, hove says...
4:21pm Wed 12 Sep 07
sm, says...
7:32pm Wed 12 Sep 07
Kathleen McMullen wrote:That's funny, I'm sure when I lived there (for all of 3 months before I realised what a dump it was (house sharing) there WAS a co-op (or londis or whatever) that shut down several times in the short time I was there because of all the theft/vandalism and such, and that was in 1993.
What are the alternatives to Asda's delivery services? Can a local co-op be set up provide services on a non-profit making basis, or something similar?
Can't see the place having improved much. Full of scum. Well done ASDA. (even though ASDA is FULL of scum like 'Hawkers)
Insider, Brighton says...
9:00pm Wed 12 Sep 07
Detached Observer, Worthing says...
10:37am Thu 13 Sep 07
very interesting post! shows a lot about the meaner side of human nature! now that its not considered acceptable to joke about ethnic minorities or gays in most circles, the people who think it humorous to do so, have moved onto a new victim, the white working class!
maggie, brightoin says...
12:29pm Sat 15 Sep 07
Rosa, Brighton says...
7:15pm Mon 17 Sep 07
Paul wrote:One of those ladies is disabled. You should make sure you know all the facts before making petty and derogatory comments about someone you dont even know. Whitehawk has one of the highest concentrations of disabled people in the city, as i believe another poster said.
Perhaps it is a chance for some decent exercise. I would be delighted to get out of Whitehawk and head down to the Marina if I lived there. Certainly a very pleasant change of scenery. The two ladies in the photo look as if they could do with some much needed exercise.
James Beacon, Brrrighton says...
6:15pm Sat 13 Oct 07
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Dawn Newcomb and Abbi Hubbard of Whitehawk way destroy an Asda carrier bag
Gary, Brighton says...
7:33am Tue 11 Sep 07