Asda responds after shopper calls Wigan store a ‘free-for-all’ that made her feel ‘extremely unsafe’

A shopper at Asda in Wigan has described the store as a ‘free-for-all’ and that she felt ‘extremely unsafe’.

The customer said there were signs telling people what to do but these were ignored and no one was around enforcing them.

She also said the aisles were packed and customers weren’t sticking to the social distancing rules and that many shoppers were not wearing face coverings.

Following the complaints, Asda has responded.

The store has robustly defended its compliance with health measures, explaining that there was no reason to suspect any danger from the number of people in store over the weekend.

The customer, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “It was unbelievably busy. They had all the safety measures in place at the entrance and exit, signs telling you to keep two metres apart and sanitisers, but nothing was being policed.

“There was no social distancing and face masks weren’t being worn. People were chock-a-block in the aisles. It was packed, a complete free-for-all. It felt so unsafe.

“It was just like a normal day close to Christmas. It was just open with everybody doing whatever they wanted whenever they pleased. There was no awareness of anything.

“I felt so wary and scared. I just wanted to get out.”

Asda said that at no point over the weekend was the Wigan store even close to capacity set out by the ‘one-metre-plus’ social distancing rules. 

The retailer also added that Wigan Council had visited and found no areas for improvement, and that safety marshals are posted in aisles and at the entrance of the store to remind customers of regulations and to answer any questions.

An Asda spokesperson said: “We have extensive measures in place across all our stores such as Covid-marshals, protective screens, social distancing signage and numerous hand sanitiser stations.

“Our customers can rest assured that we continue to follow all government guidance as we have since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.”