FURIOUS residents have hit out at Asda over plans to extend the 40,000 square foot superstore’s opening times to 24 hours.
The Smallwood supermarket opened in November creating more than 300 jobs at the Jinnah Road site.
However, residents in nearby roads are voicing concerns over the effects of 24-hour signage and lighting, increased traffic and parking, extended alcohol sales and additional footfall in the area.
Smallwood Residents Association (SRA) spoke out at the first planning application, submitted jointly with B&Q in early 2014, which included a request for 24-hour opening and the 24-hour sale of alcohol.
This original application for extended opening hours was withdrawn but another was submitted last month on December 17.
Application 2015/368/S73 asks for 24-hour opening Monday to Saturday, between 10am and 5pm on Sundays and 9am and 6pm on bank and public holidays.
SRA has since written to the chief executive of Asda Andy Clarke asking his team to ‘do the decent neighbourly thing’ and withdraw the application.
Local councillor Greg Chance (Lab, Smallwood) said he is totally against extending the store’s opening hours and plans to speak against the proposal when it is considered by the planning committee in March.
“We still haven’t had long enough to monitor the impact of the current opening times on the local community and we’re not just talking about residents of Smallwood here but also Mayfields as they are on the route to the store.
“It’s close to people’s houses and they don’t want to be disturbed at three in the morning or whenever in the night people choose to go there.”
The store is currently open from 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and between 10am and 4pm on a Sunday.
An Asda spokesperson said: “Our store has been extremely successful since we opened and to help us serve our customers better we are looking to extend our opening hours.
“We have been consulting with our neighbours, and will continue to do so through this process.”
Any comments on the application must be with the planning department by January 29, 2016.
