Protests raised against the prospect of Sunday opening for lock up storage in Saltney

Oct 4 2010 by David Norbury, Chester Chronicle

PROTESTS were raised against the prospect of Sunday opening for lock up storage.

They came from the residents' association on the Lindfields estate in Saltney where occupiers objected to an application by Lock Stock Self Storage Ltd to open between 10am and 4pm at the container storage site on nearby Boundary Lane.

The business originally had approval in 2006 with no opening on Sundays or bank holidays.

The restriction was continued in a later application.

Writing in on behalf of residents on the estate, which first had approval in 1995, chairman Carolyn Edwards told planning officers at Cheshire West and Chester Council the site was a "disruptive, noisy eyesore"

She pointed out that land on the Flintshire side of Boundary Lane had been developed for residential as had that in Cheshire West and Chester apart from the storage.

Asking for residents' views to be taken "very seriously" she added:"This is predominantly a residential area with many young families and a park and school on the opposite side of the road to the entrance to Lock Stock which we feel is highly inappropriate.

"We do not and never have wanted this site at all and certainly do not wish to be further inconvenienced by noisy large vehicles and container doors slamming in the early hours of Sunday morning."

She described the land as "vastly overgrown" and claimed the site was generally unmanned.

Both the association and occupier Andrew Benyon suggested the firm’s River Lane site was more suitable.

Mr Benyon also claimed the storage stayed open on a Sunday “quite often”.

A report put forward by the company argued that noise from container doors opening and closing would be less for Lindfields than that from passing traffic or trains.

Container access would be infrequent, Lock Stock insisted.

Planning officers believed, though, that the possible effect of more sudden noises including screeches or clanging would cause particular disturbance to neighbours' sleep.

Those in Flintshire would have been aware of the storage before they purchased their flats but Lindfields had been occupied for some time before the storage moved in and the gardens of houses on the estate adjoined the site.

Environmental health officers suggested the noise assessment did not demonstrate that neighbours would not suffer detriment due to noise on Sundays.

Planners suggested that 10am to 4pm on Sundays would be acceptable as did Overleigh Cllr Arthur Harada (Con).

The company then revised its original bid for 6pm closing.

The application was recommended for approval and the council agreed the Sunday hours until 4pm should have permission as there would not be unacceptable noise or general disturbance to neighbours.