Plans to allow 24/7 deliveries to Wrexham supermarket set for approval despite concerns from residents

Plans to allow 24/7 deliveries to and from a Wrexham supermarket could be approved next week, despite concerns from nearby residents and the local community council.

The proposals for Asda, which are described as temporary, would remain in place until the end of the year.

The applicants say the change is “required in order to allow the retailer to continue to make deliveries to and from the site on an unrestricted basis, so that Asda may continue to effectively serve the residents of Wrexham throughout the pandemic.”

They add that a “maximum of one vehicle movement per day is operating within the overnight period for each of the locations, (i.e. service yard and home shopping pod)”

But the local community council has questioned why temporary provision for food deliveries needs to be introduced at this stage of the pandemic.

The community council said: “The council notes the applicant has now indicated this permission is only required for a temporary 12 month period in order to manage the demand for food provision during the pandemic.

“However, the council has concerns that this temporary request is being made 12 months after the first lockdown when demand for home deliveries increased initially.

“The pandemic situation is changing and more positive with a planned timetable for the relaxation of lockdown restrictions, the reduction in the number of cases and rollout of the Covid 19 vaccine.

“There is not in the council’s view a strong case to permit this temporary permission for a twelve month period given it is so long after the first and subsequent lock downs.”

Members have also called for reassurance that the deliveries won’t cause any disturbance to neighbouring residents.

However the plans have been recommended for approval by Lawrence Isted, chief officer of planning and regulatory at Wrexham Council.

In a report due before planning committee members on Monday 12 April, Mr Isted said: “Given the potential for noise disturbance from a permanent 24 hour operation, it would be normally be appropriate for a noise report to accompany the planning application.

“However, the public protection team has confirmed that provided the relaxation of the delivery times is until no longer than the end of 2021, they do not require a noise report or have any objections to the planning application.

“A condition should also be attached to the permission to ensure that the rating level of any noise generated by reason of this development does not exceed the pre-existing background level at any time.

“The public protection team has expressed no concerns in relation to the temporary extended servicing hours of the site.

“I am therefore satisfied that the increased servicing hours may continue for the coming nine months, in order to serve the borough during the pandemic.”

The application will be considered for approval at a virtual meeting at 4pm on Monday 12 April.