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Burnham
Hovercraft Home Page > Burnham Hovercraft
News Archive
Published:
February 26, 2007
Asda
jumps in to help Burnham charity after Tesco axes collection box
 Supermarket
giant Tesco has disappointed fundraisers at Burnham-On-Sea's hovercraft
group by asking them to remove a vital charity collection box
from its store in the town.
The
distinctive collection box, which is a miniature replica of Burnham's
famous low lighthouse, has been in the store's entrance foyer
for over four years and earns BARB, the life-saving charity behind
the town's two rescue hovercrafts, up to £500 a year.
But
during the last few weeks a Tesco staff member contacted the charity
to ask that it be removed and taken away, without giving a full
explanation.
Alan
Miller, Chairman of BARB, said: "We are deeply disappointed
by the store's actions and the way they have handled this. We
have received several calls from members of the public asking
where the collection box has gone and why."
But
Tesco spokeswoman Linda Marsh said: "Tesco's 'clear foyer'
policy has actually been in place for some years. Nothing has
changed. We only allow collection boxes in our foyers for Tesco's
'charity of the year', which is currently the British Red Cross.
Charity collections are also allowed outside the store on an occasional
basis with prior agreement."
"In
this case, it would seem the Burnham store only recently realised
that this particular box is not in line with the policy and, therefore,
asked that it be removed. Unfortunately,
if we allowed one charity to place a box in our foyer, we would
need to allow many more and we wouldn't be able to choose between
them."
The
story took a further twist this week with the news that Asda,
which is currently building a new store in nearby Highbridge,
has jumped at the chance to have the collection box in its foyer.
A
spokesman said: "We would be absolutely thrilled and delighted
to have one of BARB's collection boxes in the foyer of our new
store when it opens. If BARB finds a new home for the box before
we open, we would still love to have one if they would like to
make another."
BARB's
Mr Miller said: "This is wonderful news - we are delighted
that there's a happy ending to this story."
Our
photo (top) shows BARB members Dave Bailey and Clive Weal alongside
the charity's lighthouse collection box
RELATED
LINKS:
BARB Web site
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