Councillor blasts 'persistent problem' of abandoned shopping trolleys 'scarring' Paisley

Abandoned shopping trolleys remain a “persistent problem” and “scar” on the landscape in Paisley, an elected member has said.

Concerns have been repeated about “eyesore” carts blighting the environment, with as many as 17 counted on Ferguslie Park Avenue recently.

Councillor Janis McDonald, who confirmed they were reported and removed, believes the problem has been worsened by the cost-of-living crisis.

She said transport has become unaffordable for a growing number of people, which could be a factor in the number of trolleys scattered across the town.

Despite highlighting the work of Team Up to Clean Up, a partnership between the council and community focusing on keeping Renfrewshire as tidy as possible, she said the issue is a “visible hurdle” to how the initiative is viewed.

The Labour rep for Paisley Northwest said: “I’ve drawn attention to Team Up to Clean Up as it shows a great deal of evidence of success.

“However, in my ward, abandoned supermarket trolleys remain a constant, visible hurdle to any local perception of success.

“The initiative supports the council to increase street and drain cleaning. It reports that thousands are working together with the council to make Renfrewshire a cleaner, more vibrant place to live, work and visit.

“Trolleys are a persistent problem. A couple of weeks ago, on a warm, sunny day, I was on my way to visit a constituent when I spotted a huge number of them lying around various parts of the ward.

“I counted a flabbergasting 17 trolleys in one Ferguslie street. To me they remain a clear sign that many things are worsening in this current cost-of-living crisis.

“These abandoned trolleys are an eyesore but also create dangers for children and wildlife, as well as being a scar on our public space. They create a huge dent in our public pride.

“This continued deterioration underlines for me that many local people, particularly those with disabilities, single parents and others on limited incomes, are now unable to manage an occasional taxi to get the ‘big shop’ home.

“Getting the bus can be out of an affordable price range, even if the service is still going and has not been cut.”

Councillor McDonald previously drew attention to the Trolleywise app, which allows users to report trolleys that have been dumped in their community so they can be retrieved.

She has since urged stores to consider “innovative solutions” to tackle the issue.

“Despite a difficult financial climate many stores are doing very well although margins are reported to be tighter,” she added.

“We really need them to help. I have learned of a system in Australia that provides digital locators or trackers for individual trolleys so they can be quickly found and collected by stores.

“Perhaps our supermarkets can invest in more innovative solutions like this.”

A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: “It’s great to see praise for our Team Up to Clean Up campaign as we’re extremely proud of the work we’ve been carrying out jointly with communities to make a positive difference to Renfrewshire.

“We would ask people to please ensure that shopping trolleys are returned to the store if they’ve been taken off site, but if you see any abandoned then they can be reported on the Trolleywise app for collection.

“If a supermarket is not on the app, please report it directly to the store.”