FOLLOWING approval by senior councillors, Thurrock Council plans to formally adopt powers to charge owners of abandoned shopping trollies for their collection from public land - subject to the outcome of a consultation with shops and other stakeholders.

News of the scheme was published by Thurrock Nub News early in June and then backed by members of the authority's cleaner, greener overview and scrutiny committee. Members of the cabinet have now added their own endorsement.

If the scheme goes forward following a consultation with shops and other stakeholders it will mean that the council can start charging owners for the cost of collecting, storing and returning or disposing of trollies which have been dumped in roads, parks or on other public land in the borough.

Leader of Thurrock Council, Cllr Rob Gledhill, said: "We routinely collect over 400 discarded shopping trollies a month and it is not right that Council Tax payers end up footing the bill for that activity.

"Under this scheme we would be able to charge owners for the costs associated with removing and storing their trolley and they have the option of taking the trolley back or paying for us to properly dispose of it.

"Abandoned shopping trollies are a potentially dangerous eyesore and this scheme will help encourage shops to make sure that their trollies are returned or face the costs of clearing them up if they are dumped."

Consultation will now take place with local retailers that provide trollies for customers, residents, retail industry representative bodies, Police and the Environment Agency as the council initiates the process to adopt the relevant powers under the Environment Protection Act 1990.

If adopted the council will also look to set up a scheme with shops to have their trollies returned to them for a set fee for each trolley.

It is estimated that each return or disposal would incur a cost of between £120 and £230. The council would charge a collection fee of £70, an administration fee of £35.00 and £15 per week storage for a maximum of six weeks. There would also be a disposal fee £35. Where a retailer agrees a scheme with the council, a set fee of £85 is recommended to have the trolleys returned to store.