PLANNING bosses at Warrington have agreed to allow a supermarket to open earlier and stay open later – despite objections from nearby residents.
The controversial application by Tesco, in respect of its new Tesco Express store in Warrington Road, Penketh, also angered local councillors because it was made only a week after the store opened.
Members of
Penketh Parish Council said they were “appalled” that only a week after the store opened, Tesco was seeking to changed the agreed early morning opening times.
They believed there would be a noise impact on people living nearby.
Local borough councillor Fiona Bruce also objected to the changes.
The original planning consent included conditions that restricted opening hours to 7am-10pm Monday to Saturday and 9am-8pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
No deliveries were to take place before 9am and after 6pm Monday-Saturday and no at all on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
This was subsequently amended to allow opening 7am-10pm every day and to allow newspapers to be delivered from 6am.
Now, however, the store can open from 7am to 11pm every day and newspapers can be delivered from 6am.
Warrington’s development control committee allowed the amended opening times after planning officers said the nearest homes were so far from the premises that any increased noise or disturbance would go unnoticed.
They also approved alterations to an external refrigeration plant after being told by officer that the noise levels would be inaudible from the nearest houses.
This was also opposed by the parish council.
