Tesco forces Big Issue seller to stand in wind and rain as Storm Doris batters Britain

[dutchman]

The woman has been ordered not to stand under the shop's canopy



Tesco has forced a Big Issue seller to stand in the wind and rain as the biggest storm of the year batters Britain.

The global supermarket giant has told the woman, who usually sells the £2.50 magazines outside the Tesco Metro store in Jubilee Crescent, that she must move away from the shop’s entrance and out of the cover afforded by the building’s canopy.

Management at the store have ordered her into the elements just as Storm Doris hits the nation, causing 44mph gusts and torrential downpours in the region.

One angry customer contacted the Telegraph after seeing the woman standing in the rain to say he felt the way she had been treated was shocking.

David Supple, who passes the seller daily on his way to work at nearby Meggitt, said: “She is very pleasant and struggles to sell in what is quite an economically deprived area - she’s there five days a week come rain or shine.

“She used to be outside the front of the store under the shelter that the overhang provides, but she’s been relocated to the steps of the nearby health centre and left outside in the elements.

“She said it was because the store manager won’t let her stand outside.

“I thought it was really harsh. The building provides shelter and I can’t see why she’s been prevented from standing outside.

“Big Issue sellers have it hard enough without standing in the rain.”

Mr Supple contacted Tesco to raise his concerns about the seller being forced into the rain and into an area of reduced footfall.

Tesco said the decision had been taken on the back of complaints from customers, but appeared to be unable to specify exactly how many complaints there had been or if any positive feedback had been received to counter the negative views.

Responses from the firm’s official account on social media website Twitter read: “The management team have requested the vendor selling the Big Issue is moved away from the store at the request of other customers.

“We have listened to our customers’ feedback who shop at the store and have taken action on the back of this.”

Asked for clarification over the type of comments received about the Big Issue seller, a spokesman added: “I’m afraid I cannot comment on the exact action my colleagues have taken in store, but I can assure you that it would have been done professionally and with a lot of understanding of the situation.”

The Telegraph approached the seller for comment, but she said she would prefer not to get into a tit-for-tat public argument with management at the Tesco store.

However, she did say she was “scared” at the prospect of being made to stand outside in the wind and rain brought by Storm Doris.

The Big Issue magazine is sold by homeless and long-term unemployed people. Vendors buy copies for £1.25 and sell for £2.50.

[rebbonk]

This appears to be very uncharitable, unless there is more to it than we read here?

[Melisandre]

The old community centre has far better protective covering than Tesco I should know I was born and bought up just one street up from the Tesco also the Health Centre which is just a few yards away from Tesco. I see it not much difference to charity chuggers stand waiting at tills or enterances of shops which people complain about. I was homeless with two young children and I did nt go begging or selling .

[dutchman]

Tesco stands by decision to force Big Issue seller into wind and rain

Tesco has defended the decision to force a Big Issue seller to face wind and rain by banning her from standing outside the entrance to one of its stores.

The global supermarket giant also said it had actually ordered her onto the un-sheltered streets several weeks ago, when the temperatures were much lower, rather than on the eve of Thursday’s Storm Doris.

Previously, the seller had sold copies of the Big Issue magazine in the covered pavement area outside the Tesco Metro store in Jubilee Crescent .

But she was recently asked to move out of the cover afforded by the shop’s canopy by store management.

Tesco said the decision to order her away had been made after “several and persistent” complaints from customers.

But, when challenged by the Telegraph, Tesco was unable to say how many complaints had been made - or by how many people.

The firm also failed to address whether staff at the store had received any positive feedback about the Big Issue seller’s presence - in contrast to the complaints.

One customer has contacted the Telegraph to say he offered positive feedback about the woman’s presence to the firm.

Bosses at the Big Issue said they were “disappointed” by Tesco’s decision and would offer support to the seller.

A spokesman said: “The Big Issue works with businesses and local authorities to create safe pitch locations which place our sellers at the heart of their communities.

“Like many of her customers, we’re disappointed that Tesco has taken the decision to displace our seller in this instance, and will support her to ensure she remains able to earn a reasonable income by selling the magazine.”