‘OUTRAGEOUS’: Hornchurch Wenzel staff hit out after schoolchildren leave food and rubbish all over the floor.
Hornchurch Wenzel staff have hit out at what they described as “DISGUSTING BEHAVIOUR” after schoolchildren left rubbish and FREE FOOD strewn across the pavement outside the store, prompting a furious warning that popular food offers could be withdrawn if the behaviour continues.
The comments came as Havering Council continues its drive to tackle littering and fly-tipping across the borough.
This week, The Havering Daily has highlighted the shocking amount of unwanted furniture and other discarded items being dumped behind Hornchurch High Street.
Now Wenzel staff have taken to social media to express their anger at what they say happened outside their Hornchurch store yesterday.
In a post aimed at parents of children attending Emerson Park School, the staff wrote:
“Just posting to say if your children go to Emerson Park and like to linger in Hornchurch after school…
Please remind them the importance of picking up after themselves. It is disgusting behaviour and the students have little to no manners or regard for anyone else. Throwing their rubbish and FREE FOOD on the floor is OUTRAGEOUS. To have that little respect is concerning for the next generation. Horrible look for the school.
When confronted they all laughed and ‘ran’ off and left our staff to clean up after them. There is a bin directly outside the store; there is no excuse.”
The staff also raised concerns about the store’s popular app offers, which provide customers with free food and drinks.
They claimed the offer was being abused and warned that the privileges could ultimately disappear for everyone if the behaviour continues.
“The exploitation of our app is out of control, and we obviously do not remember every single person that claims their free doughnut and hot drink.
If your children have visited our store and have claimed, can you please let them know that we cannot keep doing this. And everyone will lose these privileges if it carries on.”
The issue is particularly frustrating at a time when Havering is stepping up its efforts to tackle litter and fly-tipping.
The Havering Daily has already reported on discarded furniture being dumped at the rear of Hornchurch High Street, with unwanted items left for others to deal with.
Now the behaviour described by Wenzel staff has raised another question: why are people continuing to throw their rubbish on the ground when bins are available?
And perhaps even more importantly, why is FREE FOOD being treated as though it has no value?
Wenzel is a popular local store which provides food and drink to people across the community, and staff are working hard to serve customers.
The fact that members of staff were then reportedly left to pick up food and rubbish from outside the store has understandably caused frustration.
There is also a wider lesson here.
Not everyone in Havering is fortunate enough to have a fridge full of food or know where their next meal is coming from.
For some families and individuals, putting food on the table is a daily struggle.
Free food should not be viewed as something disposable.
It should be valued.
And litter should not simply be thrown onto the floor for somebody else to clean up.
There is a bin directly outside the Wenzel store, according to the staff’s post.
The message from the store is therefore straightforward: take your rubbish with you, respect the staff, and respect the food being given away.
The staff also made clear that if the reported behaviour continues, the free offers could be lost for everybody.
The Wenzel post was specifically directed at parents of children from Emerson Park who visit Hornchurch after school.
It is not an accusation against every pupil at the school, but it is a warning about behaviour the store says its staff witnessed and had to deal with.
And as Havering continues its fight against littering and fly-tipping, the message from the Hornchurch store is one that applies to everyone.
If you make rubbish, put it in the bin.
And if you are lucky enough to receive FREE FOOD, respect its value.
Because the people left behind to clean up the mess should not have to pay the price for somebody else’s lack of consideration.
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