Tesco's (and other) petrol no longer 24 hour self service?

Totally_Blonde

I went in to my local Tesco tonight and asked the security guard why the petrol station was completely closed and he said they have started closing earlier. I pointed out they normally have a few pumps that stay open as pay at pump only and he said this has been stopped at all Tesco petrol stations recently because someone used pay at pump to set themselves on fire...
This would explain why no one can find any information on new legislation etc as I think it has been kept fairly quiet what happened - he didn't tell me which Tesco it happened at, just that it wasn't the one I was at (Banbury).

elsien

It's not a national bit of legislation.
Asda near me are trying to put in unmanned pumps which will operate with store opening hours, which is till till 10pm at night. They'd go for 24 hours if they thought they could get away with it.

Although I'm failing to see why someone couldn't set themselves on fire just as easily at 7.45 pm, as 10, if your security guard is correct.

Nick_C

My nearest Tesco petrol station (Baldock, just off the A1) now closes at 10pm. They said its because they have had too many late night robberies!

The supermarket is open 24 hours though!

DigForVictory

That may explain why the little Tesco petrol station near me is selling up.

Ah well, better get the metal jerrycan dusted down. And tested that I can lift the blighter when full.

AdrianC

DigForVictory wrote: »

Ah well, better get the metal jerrycan dusted down. And tested that I can lift the blighter when full.

Petrol weighs 750g/litre - so a full 10l jerrycan will only weigh just over 10kg
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00C2VY95C

Sure, the elderly and those of restricted mobility may struggle, but the vast majority of people should be perfectly capable of using that quite happily.

leviathan

Totally_Blonde wrote: »

pay at pump only and he said this has been stopped at all Tesco petrol stations recently because someone used pay at pump to set themselves on fire

I would really hope that this isn't down to such a stupid knee jerk reaction
If they took such measures all over their business, they would be out of business

facade

leviathan wrote: »

I would really hope that this isn't down to such a stupid knee jerk reaction
If they took such measures all over their business, they would be out of business

I doubt it. Why would they care if someone set fire to themselves, if they had paid for the petrol? (As long as they don't damage Tesco property when they do it, and there is no possibility that the relatives could chase Tesco for "compo")


Most likely it is down to having to pay some 18 year old as much as £6.15 an hour to stay on site, and not selling enough petrol on average to cover that, the electric bill and a fat profit.;)

leviathan

I dont know how the "every accident is preventable" brigade work these days but I'm sure they'd find a reason for it.


Like the inquest into the death of the 11yr old girl at Drayton Mannor.
They found the ride had signs saying "remain seated" but did not have signs saying "do not stand up"


One could argue that allowing people to dispense fuel without having someone on site means they were unable to rescue the person setting themself on fire. Thus it might have been preventable if it were manned.

Penelopa.Pitstop

Somehow, people in other countries don't need supervision and it's still possible to buy fuel at unmanned petrol stations at night. And thanks for that.