A Rickmansworth man is campaigning against the town’s Tesco’s home delivery van having its engine running all day- saying the damage it is doing to the local environment is “considerable”.
Russell Ball is a chartered biologist with the Royal Society of Biology and a member of local eco-campaign group, Sustainable Three Rivers.
According to him, the Tesco on Frogmoor Wharf has a large, refrigerated diesel van for its ‘Click & Collect’ home delivery service often situated in its car park. He says that van’s engine is left idling seven days a week, which is having an impact on the air quality of the area.
In a letter sent to the chairman of Tesco, Mr Ball said: “Whilst the service offered is appreciated, I believe its environmental costs, in terms of local air quality – and on a broader scale contributing to climate change – are considerable especially considering this van’s diesel consumption: hourly, daily, weekly and monthly.
“I do not think many of Tesco’s customers fully appreciate that Tesco are operating the van with the engine running in this way and to this level and would have deep concerns if they did.”
The area the van sits idle is not far from the pedestrian route for children at St Mary’s School and the Rickmansworth Aquadrome.
Mr Ball is also concerned that stationary idling is an offence under Section 42 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, and contravenes an initiative started by Three Rivers District Council in 2019 to prevent idling.
A spokesperson for Tesco said: “I can confirm that our vans are not left running when parked. The temperature for the vans is controlled without need for the engine to be on and the vans are in use throughout the day making deliveries rather than remaining at the store.
“We do not believe that the noise is related to our vehicles.
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