West Molesey Tesco agrees trial for early morning deliveries

A one-year trial has been agreed for lorries to make deliveries at a Surrey supermarket from 07:00 on Sundays and bank holidays.

Large Tesco lorries will be allowed to drive up and make earlier deliveries at its West Molesey store in Hurst Road.

Some residents objected to this, saying the vehicles made their homes shake and sent noise into nearby flats.

However, permission has been given due to Tesco's plans to curb noise, a council hearing on Tuesday was told.

Elmbridge Borough Council's planning committee granted permission having been told the supermarket would put up signs telling delivery drivers and staff to be quiet.

Engines will also be switched off when parked in the loading dock and vehicles will drive in an "as quiet as possible manor".

Radios and music are also to be switched off.

The store hopes to make the switch permanent if it does not impact residents.

The plans received two letters for and 21 letters against, including from the Hurst Park Residents' Association, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Deputy planning chair, councillor Caroline James, said: "If they're not compliant, they are not sticking to it, then for goodness sake ring the council.

"Register that you have an issue so that there is something that we can measure how successful or otherwise the variation of condition could be."

Speaking on behalf of the store, Roderick McLoud said: "It is not possible for Tesco to stock its store with fresh produce prior to opening on Sundays and public holidays, with fresh stock not making its way onto the floor until about midday after unloading.

"The effect of this is that produce available to customers each morning is picked from the previous day's last delivery, which comes in at 11 o'clock at the latest.

"This has implications for not only staffing but also the in-store customer experience which is negatively affected by staff restocking shelves during busy trading hours."

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