“What we have to put up with … it’s not just noise, it’s M&S noise.”
That was one of the comments as supermarket giant, Marks and Spencer, has had its bid to change delivery times at its Newport store thrown out by the Isle of Wight council.
Adverse impact on residents
The planning committee decided on Tuesday that nearby residents of Medina Avenue would have their quality of life adversely affected if the changes went ahead.
The store was asking to move forward the time it could allow lorries to unload their deliveries in its yard, on Sundays and bank holidays, from 10am to 8am.
Marks and Spencer says the change would allow it to have stocked shelves when it opens its doors on Sunday which it says is critical to the success of its food business.
Only two days a year respite from the noise pollution
One resident, who has lived on the road before the store was even built in 1993, told the committee they had not experienced the levels of noise and disruption they have in their homes, and only get two days a year respite from the noise pollution — Christmas Day and Easter Sunday.
They said,
“To coin a phrase … what we have to put up with it’s not just noise, it’s M&S noise.”
Enforcement action for breaches
Enforcement action is already being taken against the supermarket giant due to alleged breaches of their delivery times on Sundays and bank holidays.
Planning officers, however, recommended the application be approved, saying the change would be relatively modest and may result in an improved situation, stopping vehicles idling in the street.
Lowthion: A balance must be sought
Cllr Vix Lowthion, of Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council, said a balance must be sought between ensuring quality of life for residents and building the town’s economy.
Cllr Lowthion highlighted M&S, who were not represented at the meeting, previously tried, in 2007 and earlier this year, to vary the times deliveries were accepted but were both rejected.
She said nothing had changed in terms of the needs of residents to have a reasonable quality of life.
Churchman: People’s lives more important than M&S making more money
Committee member, Cllr Vanessa Churchman said Medina Avenue residents have to accept economic development, but people’s lives were more important than M&S making more money.
Cllr Matt Price said the retail chain could have come forward with measures to make these changes acceptable for residents, which would help with their deliveries, but it was a shame they had not.
The variation was overwhelmingly rejected by the committee by nine votes to one.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
