Gran slammed Tesco over Maryhill 'trolley shortage crisis'

Irene McGoldrick is hitting out after struggling to find a shallow shopping cart at the branch for “months”.

The 63-year-old has a fractured spine and cannot use a basket, or deeper trolley, so it has been a “nightmare” trying to go shopping.

Irene is speaking out about a trolley shortage at Tesco (Image: Gordon Terris)

Irene said: "I think it is a human right to be able to use a trolley when you go to the supermarket.

"The supermarket has hardly any shallow trolleys, it is a nightmare, you need to wander about the car park and watch for people leaving to get one.

“They keep getting stolen and the security guards can’t do anything because they are taken off the property, it is an absolute disgrace.

“When I complained I was told by Tesco staff to go to a nearby housing estate to collect one, I was stunned.

“Tesco keeps saying it will do something about it but the problem has continued for months, I hate being lied to.”

Irene asked the Glasgow Times to investigate the shortage which saw us head out to the scene this week.

Upon arrival, this reporter witnessed seven customers follow other shoppers to their cars asking for trolleys – within a 40-minute period.

We also watched worried groups of desperate customers wait by the store doors in the hopes they could grab a cart from people leaving the shop.

Irene is fed up of not being able to find an appriopriate trolley. (Image: Gordon Terris)

One shopper told us: “I am elderly and if I try to use a big trolley I might fall in it. They are impossible for me to use but you can’t get a short one unless you follow people to their car and ask. It is a Maryhill trolley shortage crisis.”

A second shopper said: “I dread coming to do my shopping now because I know I will be faced with problems getting my trolley. I need to use the branch though because it is the only one I can access from my house. I hope they sort this out.”

A third explained: “This is a serious problem for us. I have mobility problems and can’t push a big trolley. It is so difficult to get a smaller one but I rely on them.”

A fourth added: “It might not sound like a big deal but I can assure you it is.

"For some people this is the only place they can come and get their messages.

"If they need a short trolley for mobility issues then it is crucial they can access one, or they won’t be able to get their food in. It needs to be sorted.”

Tesco confirmed to the Glasgow Times that it is aware that shallow basket trolleys are in shorter supply and is working to rectify this.

It comes after the Glasgow Maryhill Extra recently received 100 new trolleys for customers to use ahead of the Christmas period.

Irene is calling on the supermarket to introduce coin-operated security chains to reduce theft, which would support elderly and disabled customers.

A Tesco spokesperson said: “We know that some customers find it easier to use shallow basket trolleys and do our best to make sure we have them available for those who need them.

“We’re sorry that some customers at our Glasgow Maryhill Extra store have struggled to find one on recent visits.

“We encourage all customers to return their trolleys once they have finished their shop both for others to use and because we don’t want them to cause any harm to the local environment.

“We use a specialist company called Trolleywise to retrieve our trollies when they have been taken and we’d ask anyone who sees an abandoned Tesco trolley to use the Trolleywise app to report this, or let their local store know so we can get it back as soon as possible.”