No Asda verdict delivered
Adam Hewitt • Published 26 Jul 2010 12:30
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A SUPERMARKET'S late-night delivery plan was mauled by angry councillors, but they stopped short of throwing it out.
Wokingham Borough Council's planning committee instead deferred Asda's application for its Lower Earley store so they could visit the site and get the delivery hours of the borough's other supermarkets.
Asda is extending its warehouse, allowing deliveries to be done indoors, and wants to deliver at all hours except 2-4am so it always has fresh produce stocked. At Wednesday's meeting, Helen Cuthbert, a director at Planning Potential, spoke for Asda.
She said: "These warehouse works will improve efficiency and cost £1.5m - Asda are not taking this lightly."
She said the extension, already approved by planning officers, would mean a "significant" eight decibel noise reduction during deliveries.
But Cllr Tim Holton, who declared an interest and did not vote, said: "Retail has changed considerably - but the expectation of enjoying one's home has not."
Councillors criticised the 2-4am delivery slot, saying it was "hard to believe" two hours was enough of a break in deliveries for neighbours. But senior council planning officer Marcia Head said at other times there was lots of background noise, especially from the M4, making deliveries less noticeable and disruptive.
Gloria Triggs of Carland Close, one of 32 objectors, said the council was ignoring World Health Organisation advice on night-time noise, but Ms Head said they were "only guidelines".
Mrs Triggs said: "Asda is in an elevated position where even the slightest sound is heard late at night and in the early morning. I have proved this many times and my sleep disruption has been great, which is now affecting my health."
Officers recommended a six-month trial of the new times, but the committee said it, not the planning officers, would decide whether they would be made permanent.
Cllr Jenny Lissaman said: "Asda makes a habit of non-compliance. Why should we think once they have had the six-month trial, they won't revert to non-compliance?"
But Cllr Chris Bowring said the committee should heed the environmental health officers, who backed the application with conditions.
Ms Head said: "If you refuse this application and Asda goes to appeal, you have no technical evidence and will be liable for costs."
The deferred application is likely to be decided at the committee's next meeting on August 18.
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