A TWO-HOUR extension for deliveries to the Dorchester Lidl store is being recommended for approval – despite objections from a neighbour and the town council.

The store is asking to extend its Sunday and Bank Holiday deliveries from 7am until 6pm, starting two hours earlier than the existing 9am condition.

During Monday to Saturday deliveries are allowed from 6am until 10pm at the store which is at the bottom of The Grove just off the junction to Charminster on the Old Sherborne Road.

West Dorset planning committee members, meeting on Thursday May 24, are being recommended to approve the earlier time.

One of the neighbours has written to tell the committee that most Lidl deliveries are by refrigerated lorries which need to keep their engines running while being unloaded – adding to the noise.

Planning officers say that the store has operated for six years without any delivery-related complaints and that the nearest homes are 40-100metres away, partially shielded by a bank of trees and shrubs.

Lidl say there will only be two deliveries on Sundays and Bank Holidays – with the average delivery taking place between 7am and 9am only once every five weeks – nine times a year.

“Given the intermittent nature of deliveries and the one hour timeframe for each delivery, it is not anticipated that the deliveries will cause a significant adverse effect through sustained noise levels to the neighbouring properties from this two hour adjustment of delivery hours,” said the report.