Staff at a Manchester city centre Lidl say they have been forced to bar schoolkids from entering the store after outbreaks of anti-social behaviour from pupils.
The Manchester Evening News understands that children from certain local schools have been banned from Lidl’s Piccadilly Gardens branch. It comes after some students were caught wreaking havoc on the shop, knocking items off shelves, and causing problems for security staff.
A Lidl spokesperson confirmed there is a “temporary” ban in place while the supermarket works with local schools to try and find a “longer-term” solution. It is also understood that this is not the first time the branch has excluded school children for similar reasons, but that the ban was reintroduced yesterday following a spate of disruptive behaviour.
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Access is still permitted if a child is accompanied by an adult, but neither individual nor groups of schoolchildren alone will be allowed to enter the supermarket, which is located next to Piccadilly Gardens bus station. Lidl has emphasised that the policy is temporary, but is currently in place.
The move is aimed at helping tackle ‘anti-social behaviour’ Lidl have seen enacted towards their staff - the M.E.N understands that this has included children running around the shop, knocking items off shelves, and distracting security staff from their main duties.
However, some customers have taken to social media to share concerns that as the cost of living rises, children are being barred from accessing cheaper supermarket lunches.
Dolores Anastasopoulou tweeted the supermarket after noticing the change, writing that the decision was “shameful”.
“Just been @lidl in Manchester City centre. With security saying that no school kids are allowed to enter! Really? So in times of #poverty #inflation we are not allowing our kids to get their lunches from a cheaper supermarket? Because we prefer for them not to eat? #shameful,” she tweeted.
The concerns come after schools in Manchester have been forced to step in to help children suffering through the current cost of living crisis.
Lidl said they do not take such decisions lightly, and are reaching out to local schools to find a longer-term solution to the issue.
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