Express & Star

Aldi’s 5am delivery plans are an unwelcome wake-up call for nearby residents

Morning deliveries to a Stone supermarket could begin at 5am if a request is granted by Stafford Borough Council – but nearby residents are not welcoming the earlier start.

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Currently deliveries to the Stafford Road Aldi are not allowed to start until 7.30am – and no evening deliveries may take place after 10pm. The restriction was one of the conditions imposed by Stafford Borough Council when planning permission was first granted for the store in 2010.

But now Aldi has applied for the condition to be changed to allow its deliveries to start from 5am.

The firm was unaware it has previously been in breach of the restriction until a night time delivery sparked a complaint from a neighbour, a letter to the council said. Following the complaint the planning conditions were reviewed and the night time delivery was stopped.

Stone Town Council gave the earlier delivery time proposal the thumbs down at its planning committee meeting this month.

There have also been objections from residents living near the store.

A Carey Close resident said: “Too much noise can reduce people’s quality of life and even destroy it.

“At present early morning deliveries can be heard from my property, causing my quality of life to be reduced, and I am inconvenienced. There are the vehicle sounds, the reversing alarm sounds, as well as the noises associated with the unloading of a vehicle.

“I have previously complained to the borough council in July 2018 reference the noise problems. My borough council representatives were also involved with the complaint.”

Another Carey Close resident said: “Delivering at this time will affect my families’ health and well being. Research clearly states that interrupted or poor sleep can affect your health.

“Lighting will be a nuisance as I have been told they are required for health and safety, they will be shining at the back of the property. The sodium flood lights shine directly on to our property and other neighbours.

“Please don’t increase the working hours. I have spent a lot of time speaking with Aldi’s management about some of the noise issues they cause, for example jet washing the car park at 5.45am, delivery noise and lighting concerns and about other maintenance contractors working through the night.

“I spoke to the council, who thankfully managed to get the delivery times to what Aldi originally agreed and this has made such a difference to our family, feeling more rested and not disturbed. I’m sure there is an alternative to the problems this store has like many other stores being limited to opening times that are located in residential areas.”

Borough and town councillor Mark Green has called in the application for discussion by the borough authority's planning committee on the grounds the earlier delivery time “will cause considerable noise to the densely populated residential area surrounding the store when the delivery lorries unload and depart.”