Supermaket suppliers accused of turning the streets of Neston into a car park for HGVs

Jul 8 2009 by Sam Christie, Birkenhead News

SUPERMARKET suppliers have been accused of turning Neston into a car park for their wagons.

A dispute has broken out between residents and businesses and Aldi over HGVs travelling to its distribution centre on the former Marconi site on the Chester High Road.

People living nearby say HGVs park on pavements and fridge units run day and night, resulting in a continuous humming sound which has caused sleepless nights.

And owners of firms on the Clayhill Light Industrial say lorries park on the site for days on end, damaging roads and disrupting business.

Aldi disputes the claims and says it has been in contact with Cheshire West and Chester Council, and any residents who have contacted the company.

Roger Lightfoot, co-owner of a car maintenance company on the industrial estate, said he had to pay £4,500 to repair the forecourt after it was damaged by HGVs.

He said: “The wagons use our site as a car park at night and make a right mess. It has cost me a lot of money.

Fiona Sharp, office manager of NBS Sports Leisure, said: “Sometimes there are three or four lorries parked on our site which don’t leave for two or three days.

“They clutter up the roads and it restricts the flow of traffic.”

A resident living on The Runnell, who asked to be identified only as Mark, has sent a series of e-mails to Aldi and the council complaining about the HGVs. He said: “We are sick of this ongoing issue disturbing our lives.”

Andrew Miller, MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston, said: “If noise is proved to be a nuisance then I would hope the local authority would use its powers to enforce parking restrictions.”