A CHARITY worker has claimed the Tesco supermarket in Royston may be discriminating against disabled and elderly people. David Wherrell, who is scheme manager of Royston and District Community Transport, says he has experienced difficulty taking passenger

A CHARITY worker has claimed the Tesco supermarket in Royston may be discriminating against disabled and elderly people.

David Wherrell, who is scheme manager of Royston and District Community Transport, says he has experienced difficulty taking passengers to Tesco because he can not park in disabled bays near enough to the entrance.

He said: "It is impossible to stop outside the temporary store entrance without holding up the traffic flow because there is no dedicated set down and drop-off point available.

"In addition, disabled parking bays are identified for use by orange badge users, a scheme which has been superseded by the blue badge and anyone can just go and park in the disabled bays."

Mr Wherrell has hand delivered two letters to Tesco, but has so far not had a response.

In his first letter he wrote: "No longer providing a set-down and pick-up point, together with the widespread abuse of disabled bays, may constitute a breach of the Disability Discrimination Act in that you are specifically discriminating against disabled people wishing to access your store.

"As a result a number of passengers have decided not to shop at Tesco and the community transport scheme is considering withdrawing its services to take passengers to the supermarket."

A Tesco spokesman said: "The store manager is in the process of responding to the second letter.

"The Royston store is in the final stages of a major refit, which includes the car park.

"All the issues raised will be considered in the final 'snagging' list before the contract is complete.