Warehouse firm acts after noise complaints

A warehouse operator in Wigan will stop transport operations overnight after residents campaigned over noise.

Logistics firm Whistl said it will "cease nighttime transport operations" at PLP Astley from 7 September after a campaign by Astley Warehouses Action over the "horrendous" noise of lorries moving around the site.

The announcement came after the firm met campaigners and Greater Manchester Mayor Bev Craig last week.

"The processing of mail and parcels will continue within the depot and we will adjust our transport operations to ensure that we meet our commitments to Whistl customers," the firm said.

Transport operations will stop between 00:00 and 06:00 BST, while internal warehouse operations will continue.

"The residents have agreed to our proposal to cease nighttime transport operations in and from the yard whilst we work on measures to reduce noise from our operations below the appropriate threshold," the firm said.

"We recognise that our operations have had an impact on nearby residents.

"Particularly nighttime noise.

"We acknowledge and take those concerns very seriously."

The company said it will "continue to meet regularly" with the resident action group to review a second proposal to work together on further noise reduction measures.

Bev Craig met the Astley Warehouses Action group last Friday - and after walking around the site said the warehouse development in Tyldesley "didn't sit right" with her, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reported.

"On Friday, I met residents living near the Astley warehouses and heard first-hand how noise and disruption from the site are affecting their daily lives," Craig said.

"People must be able to live in peace in their own homes.

"I welcome Whistl's latest decision to stop nighttime transport operations at certain times, along with its commitment to reduce overall noise levels.

"This is a step in the right direction, but there is still more to do to fix this problem.

"I'm writing to Peel Logistics Property who own the site and built the warehouses to urgently bring them to the table with residents, and I will continue to do all I can to help secure a long-term solution for everyone involved."

John Peters from the Astley Warehouses Action group said the group accepted the proposal "with caution".

Peters said: "People who border the complex are that desperate to get a full night's sleep that we have accepted this.

"But with conditions that this is a start and we still want other measures put in place."

Peters explained the group is yet to find out the extent to which the disturbance is being caused by vehicle noise alone.

"The agreement to stop nighttime transport operations doesn't mean they have stopped working," he explained.

"The huge warehouse inside will still be 24-7 and we've yet to experience which noise is from the warehouse and which noise is from the yard."

Peters added: "People are really struggling with the lack of sleep.

"It affects your mood, your mental health, everything, when you're constantly disrupted."

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