A CONTROVERSIAL bid by Sainsbury’s to extend delivery hours to its store in Central Drive, Didcot, to as late as 11pm should be approved, a council planning officer has said.

South Oxfordshire District Council’s Sharon Crawford has recommended its planning committee approve the plan when it meets on Wednesday.

The supermarket wants to extend deliveries from 6am-9pm to 6am-11pm Monday to Friday and from 6am-8pm to 6am-11pm on Saturday.

It also wants to extend Sunday delivery hours from 8am-4pm to 8am-9pm.

In a report to councillors, the planning officer recommended changing the hours for a period of two years “to allow for further monitoring to take place”. She said they would have to meet set decibel noise levels experienced by neighbours.

She added: “This temporary variation establishes a balance between protecting neighbour amenity and supporting the economic needs of an established business.”

However, Didcot Town Council has recommended the proposed extension of delivery times be refused permission “because of plans for future housing in the area of Station Road, immediately to the west of the unloading area”.

Three neighbours also objected with concerns including noise from engines and cooling units.

One wrote: “There is no real reason to extend the delivery hours. Whatever their consultants may claim the deliveries do create a noise be it the vehicles or the movement of the storage cages.”

The planning committee will meet at the district council’s offices in Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, from 6pm.

 

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