Dorset-based shopping destination makes extra effort to reduce losses from lost or stolen trollies

Dorset-based shopping destination makes extra effort to reduce losses from lost or stolen trollies

Bournemouth’s Castlepoint Shopping Park has installed two solar powered boxes by pedestrian exit routes that speak to shoppers.

Motion detectors trigger the recorded message, which thanks people for shopping at Castlepoint and politely requests that the 2,300 shopping trolleys are not removed from the 41-acre site.

Bill Riddle, operations manager at Castlepoint (pictured), said that the £1,000 investment in the address system is part of a bid to reduce the number of shopping trolleys that go missing each year.

“Over 700 trolleys are collected from roads and housing estates in the area each month by our contracted man and van service,” said Bill Riddle.

Reducing avoidable damage and losses

“We estimate that to replace the 150 that are lost each year costs over £12,500. Abandoned trolleys can also cause obstruction and annoyance to local residents and are not environmentally friendly to ponds or rivers.”

He said that extra maintenance has to be given to replace damaged wheels, where they are pushed along bumpy surfaces.

“The various sizes of trolleys are provided to help customers move their shopping around the malls and car park areas with ease. We try to ensure that all trolleys are in a good condition so to make life more convenient for our customers.”

Anyone spotting a lost Castlepoint trolley can report its location by calling or emailing the centre.