Extended open hours plan faces objections

JD Williams in Shaw. Planning application to extend hours of the Lilac Mill distribution centre. PIC shows Briar Mill and delivery vehicles.

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A SHAW distribution centre is seeking to extend its opening hours, much to the objection of some of its nearby residents.

JD Williams, at Lilac Mill, off Beal Lane, operates for 18 hours per day, though the timing of their vehicle movements is restricted during this period.

At the moment, the operation times are between 6am-10pm from Monday to Friday, 6am-4pm on weekends and public holidays.

However, the applicant wishes to open at 5.30am on Mondays, stay open for an additional two hours and 30 minutes on Friday evenings, and an additional seven hours across weekends and public holidays.

In a statement to planning officers, JD Williams said extending the hours would allow the company to offer a next-day delivery service and allow for orders to be processed over the weekend to be delivered by Monday.

All this, they said, would "make JD Williams more competitive in the market and increasingly able to meet customer expectations".

The highway officer believes there would be no adverse impact on traffic and the application has been recommended for approval.

A total of four letters of objection were sent to Oldham Council, including one from Councillor Chris Gloster in Shaw.

The councillor said residents regularly complain about the noise from the distribution centre, particularly in the evenings. Councillor Gloster also pointed out that JD's competitors Littlewoods and Yodel also do next-day deliveries but take in orders before 9pm. Yodel does not start until 8am so a 5.30am start at JD would not be characteristic of operations in the area.

The councillor also said that HGV traffic on Beal lane causes gridlock in Shaw centre and extended opening hours would add to the problem.

The decision is due to be made by the planning committee tomorrow.