A SUPERMARKET in Bude is hoping to have its delivery times extended to allow the store to run more efficiently.

Planning and development consultants Peacock & Smith Ltd on behalf of Morrisons, claim that the current delivery restrictions are ‘unreasonable and unnecessary’ and also state in the planning application that the extension would not have an adverse impact on nearby residents.

Originally the 1992 outline planning permission restricted loading and unloading within the Morrisons delivery yard, on Stucley Road, to the hours of 8am to 8pm Mondays to Saturdays, and not at any time on Sundays. In 2003, an application sought to revise the delivery regime to allow deliveries between 7am and 8pm from Mondays to Saturdays and 9am to 5pm on Sundays but it was refused. However, permission was granted on appeal in October 2004 and that’s how the delivery times stand to this day.

The new proposal seeks to vary condition one attached to the appeal decision which, if approved, would allow loading and unloading within the service yard to take place between 5am and 11pm for all seven days of the week.

Within the planning statement supporting the application, Peacock & Smith Ltd raise a number of points to reinforce why the proposal should be approved.

These include: the current delivery restrictions being unreasonable and unnecessary, the noise associated with unloading activities is attenuated by the enhanced acoustic screening provided to the side of the delivery yard, it would not have an adverse impact on residential amenity, and it would ensure the delivery system to the store operates more efficiently with associated economic, social and environmental benefits.

It is also claimed within the document that the extended delivery times could help congestion on the roads at peak traffic times, allow for the store to ensure that sufficient fresh produce and goods are available to meet customer perceptions, expectations and demand, and it would reduce on-site storage problems.

The application was discussed at Bude-Stratton Town Council’s planning committee meeting at the Parkhouse Centre last Thursday morning and the general consensus was that 5am for delivery lorries to be entering the Morrisons delivery area would be far too early.

The committee resolved that Bude-Stratton Town Council object to the variation of condition one due to noise contamination to the nearby residential area and environmental pollution.

The final decision rests with Cornwall Council.