WEYMOUTH'S Asda superstore is asking to make and receive deliveries 24-7 permanently, after a 'marked increase' in demand during the Covid pandemic.
But councillors said they had received 'numerous complaints' from residents living near to the store about disturbance caused by overnight deliveries.
Asda says rising demand had put a strain on supply chains and that without a permanent change to allow 24/7 deliveries from its Newstead Road store, it would be under pressure to deal with the increase in home deliveries and in-store sales.
When the store's extension and new entrance were approved in 2010, Dorset Council insisted the loading and unloading of goods vehicles must be limited to between 7am and 10pm daily.
However, since March 2020 the Government has allowed deliveries to all supermarkets 24/7 to help the flow of goods - and the store wants to make the moves permanent.
An agent’s letter says that there has been no formal complaints made about the change in its operations. But local councillors Ryan Hope and Gill Taylor say there has been problems.
Cllr Hope: “I have received numerous complaints from residents due to the disturbance caused by overnight deliveries to the store. These have been noted with environmental heath directly by residents.”
He has asked for a decision to be made at committee, by councillors, rather than by a single planning officer which is being suggested by Dorset Council.
Cllr Gill Taylor, pictured below with Cllr Hope, says she too has received complaints which she says were forwarded, by her, to the company.
She says the noise was of particular concern in the summer when residents had their windows open at night, adding: “The complaint I had came from one resident in Marsh Road who spoke about the effect this was having on herself and spoke on behalf of her neighbours who had made similar comments to her.
"The loading area is very close to the houses in Marsh Road and while the 24-hour nature of the store being open to the public will not affect them, loading and unloading between 11:00pm and 7:00am will have an adverse effect - and for that reason I am objecting to this application,” she said.
Comments on the proposals can be made to Dorset Council by February 16.
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