The Meersbrook community has been divided over new food delivery robots, after the machines have been seen grouping across the pavement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While some residents argue that they are simply technology advancing, others said they feel they’re unnecessary blockages to the accessibility of pedestrians especially those with buggies or wheelchairs .<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A few members of the community have gone as far as to suggest security concerns as the robots are run by an American company called Starship Technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Len Collins said on a Meersbrook Facebook group: “They have made an informal hub outside Woodseats Primary and Meersbrook Park gate. This won’t be by accident but by design. That is a public space being co-opted by corporate business for profit. Try setting up a coffee cart in a space like that and you’d get a swift visit from the licensing team.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The company denies the claims that this behaviour is on purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A spokesperson for the company said: “We’re aware that last week a couple of robots in Meersbrook weren\u2019t parked quite as neatly as they should be. This was quickly resolved. We\u2019d never want to block a pavement, and we choose the locations where our robots wait between orders with accessibility in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Our robots learn with every journey, every experience, and pass on information \u2013 like how to park in a specific area \u2013 to the rest of the fleet. That means they should always self-correct if they park out of line, but we keep a close eye in new service areas while the robots settle into a new environment.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However Greens councillor for Gleadless Valley Marieanne Elliot said ‘To say it’s been quickly resolved isn’t true, I’ve just seen one parked in the middle of a dropped curb – so definitely not parked with accessibility in mind’.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The robots have been repeatedly vandalised and tipped up since their introduction to the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But some members of the community welcome the machines, Patricia Marshall said on Facebook: “I love them, I just wish people didn’t damage them.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While Kathryn Considine stated: “E bikes and cyclists on pavements are much worse.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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