Sarah Carr raises residents noise complaints with dot com operations at Tesco Belmont

11.57.38am GMT Fri 11th Dec 2009

On Thursday 10th December, Sarah Carr, the Liberal Democrat Prospective MP for Hereford and South Herefordshire met with Tesco Belmont store manager Matt Bourne to raise the concerns of local residents about the noise coming from the dot com internet operation located off Abbotsmead Road, Belmont, Hereford. Commenting on the meeting Sarah Carr said,

"I have been contacted by local residents concerned about the noise in people's homes and gardens coming from the dot com distribution yard behind Tesco Belmont. Internet shopping is getting more and more popular but residents have told me how the noise of vehicles, activity and sometimes shouting as delivery vans are prepared and loaded can start very early in the morning and disrupts any peace in their homes and gardens. As a result I was keen to hear from the store manager today what he was doing to decrease the noise levels and meet the concerns of local residents."

Mr Bourne gave Mrs Carr a tour of the area where all internet orders are dispatched and gave a report of the action that has been taken to reduce noise levels and increase neighbouring residents' privacy. A sound barrier, notices informing employees to bear in mind the residential area and noise insulating trees were all pointed out. The store manager also informed Sarah that Tesco have stopped doing night deliveries from the back gates but now take them though the front of the store and that they have fitted blinds on all the windows that overlook the gardens to ensure residents privacy. The manager was keen to stress to Sarah Carr that Tesco is very keen to have a good relationship with local community and is continually trying to find ways to decrease the noise levels.

Sarah continued, "Whilst I could see that Tesco have worked to reduce the noise levels I could also see how the noise from the pallets loading the vehicles and the loud refridgeration units on the dot com delivery vans could still be very irritating to residents who back onto the yard. I will be writing to the residents who have contacted me about noise giving them a report on the meeting and a telephone number to call with any complaints about noise levels. I will be staying in touch with Tesco to ensure they continue to develop and implement ideas to further reduce the noise levels from the dot com area that disturb local Belmont residents and their quality of life. I understand that Herefordshire Council Environmental Health Officers are also monitoring the noise levels and are meeting with Tesco in the next few weeks."