‘It feels like an unending battle… our small roads cannot take anymore of a beating’

The Asda store in Shaw

A supermarket in Shaw has been told it cannot extend its operating hours after neighbours complained the ‘deafening noise’ of delivery vehicles would become ‘unbearable’.

Asda supermarket on Greenfield Lane first submitted the application in 2020 during the pandemic – but the council has only just made its final decision on the matter. 

The supermarket giant requested to suspend certain conditions from a previous planning permission that meant vehicles could not be unloaded on the site outside set hours.

These were 6am to 10pm on Monday to Saturday and 9am to 5pm on Sundays. 

The retailer wanted to start operating a 24-hour delivery service to help them deal with ‘heightened demand’ and ensure staff have enough time to restock shelves before opening hours. 

They claimed there would be ‘no adverse impact’ on the surrounding community, with lorry drivers to be told they must turn off their engines while stationary and unload groceries ‘carefully’ to minimise rattling and bangs. 

But the application received five strongly-worded objections from local residents and the parish council, who claimed nearby families already suffered from ‘terrible noise’ because of delivery vehicles during the day.  

One objector described the situation as an ‘unending battle’ and said: “Our small roads cannot take anymore of a beating when it comes to these larger delivery wagons.”

A resident of Milnrow Road, the main road in and out of the area, wrote: “The large trucks make load bangs and rattling noises, which are deafening.

"Our house shakes, as they pass at speed and cracks have appeared in our plasterwork.

"If this were to happen during the night, it would be unbearable.” 

The council ultimately issued a refusal to the planning application.

Planning officer Emma Barton stated that the removal of the conditions ‘will result in noise, activity and disturbance… at hours of the day which would significantly and detrimental impact the residential amenity currently enjoyed of the occupiers of the nearby residential properties’.

The supermarket paid £234 to submit its application but because the decision took more than a year, the applicants are entitled to a refund.

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