The long trials for safer trolleys

By Elizabeth Hart
TRIALS continue for trolleys with brakes at the Safeway car park on the north side of Berwick village.
But shoppers have no date yet for safer trolleys, six months after the trials began.
The push for safer trolleys sparked a decision by Safeway neighbour Dan Murphy’s to install brakes on its own trolleys last year.
Safeway is still testing two designs at other stores, the Gazette understands.
Safeway personnel would not comment on the status of those tests when the Gazette contacted the Berwick store on Monday.
Runaway trolleys stacked with supermarket produce led to complaints last May from residents and ward councillors.
Five prototypes with brake mechanisms went to trial in Berwick last October.
Resident and former councillor Brian Hetherton wants no more delays.
“Anyone who puts about five kilograms of items into a trolley is looking at occupational health and safety issues,” Mr Hetherton said.
Mr Hetherton’s own car was damaged by a runaway trolley and he said he had received reports of people falling over while trying to wheel trolleys and avoid losing control while unloading goods into cars.
“That is why the Dan Murphy’s store was so quick to act,” he said.
“Watch people at 4pm coming out of the supermarket trying to dodge cars, hold on to their trolleys and unload on the slope.
The gradient at the site of the supermarket and adjoining car park aroused controversy about 15 years ago when the Berwick Marketplace was in the town planning stages and it has come back to bite with concerns about the potential for damage to people and property.
“Imagine someone losing control of the trolley, it’s rolling down the hill and a car coming the other way,” Mr Hetherton said.
“Does the driver swerve to miss the trolley and risk hitting people?”
The development went ahead despite objections from the lobby group Berwick and District Community Association which warned the council at the time that residents would be unable to wheel trolleys easily.
The chamber of commerce and Casey council have also pushed for safer trolleys.
“People say the slope is there and we’ve just got to put up with it,” Mr Hetherton said.
“But change can be achieved.”
He said a motion could go to the council banning trolleys without brakes and ultimately a new bylaw would be effective.
“It is obvious that trolleys with brakes would be an important service to customers.”
Despite the trials, there is no indication yet that Safeway owner Woolworths will decide in favour of new-style trolleys and, if so, the wait for new ones could take six months by the time coin locks are fitted.