'Shell shocked' by Aylesbury WH Smith rubbish pile

Locals have criticised WHSmith after discovering piles of discarded waste strewn about the delivery bay at the rear of its high street shop, in Aylesbury.

Images of the retailer’s private staff parking area show empty bottles and crushed cans amid containers, a wooden crate, and a large electrical appliance.

The matter was brought to light on social media, on December 27.

Since then, people have described the scene as “nothing short of disgraceful”, with one advising the retailer to ensure its other shops are not in the same condition.

“@WHSmith your delivery area at the back of your Aylesbury town centre store is nothing short of disgraceful,” wrote a commenter. “I’m shell shocked that this is in the state it’s in.”

Someone else replied saying: “To be honest @WHSmith you really ought to be ashamed of yourself and as for the store manager [they] need a good talking to.

“How on earth can your store get to be so…disgusting. Just [because] it’s out the back does not make it OK. Disgraceful. Check your other stores too please.”

Another person wrote: “I did notice that last week, but I didn’t know it was @WHSmith – thought it was [an] abandoned shop.”

Yet another Twitter user wrote: “Shocking.”

In response, a spokesperson for WHSmith said: “Our Aylesbury store is liaising with local authorities and property services to resolve an ongoing community issue with littering in the store’s delivery bay; we are in the process of arranging for the rubbish to be cleared as soon as possible.”

Buckinghamshire Council was also approached for comment.