Vehicle movements allowed from 4am in Cannock despite residents' objections

One neighbour told a Cannock Chase Council meeting he had been woken up just after 5am that very morning by vehicle sounds coming from the unit at Martindale Trading Estate in Hawks Green.

But a spokesperson for the company, KCG, said it was unaware of any issues during its previous period based at the estate from 2005 to 2017.

Louise Jackson, who spoke at Wednesday’s planning committee, added: "We returned in 2019 and we were doing exactly the same then as we are doing now, in the same position. We’re moving gravel and sand, using the same equipment and leaving the unit at the same time.

"I apologise for the noises created when we returned in 2019 and we have tried to make changes and do what we can to manage this situation. But we are in the middle of an industrial site, it’s noisy. It isn’t just us."

A previous planning permission condition restricted commercial vehicle movements to or from the site to between the hours of 8am and 6pm.

But an application was submitted to Cannock Chase Council in May to allow movement of vehicles from 4am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 2pm on Saturdays.

A report to the planning committee said: "The applicant has confirmed the extension to the hours would be to facilitate the occasional movement of one vehicle that is required to leave the site by 04:30hrs and a further three vehicles between 07:00hrs and 08:00hrs.

"The applicant has confirmed that there would be no other operations taking place within the site e.g. loading / unloading of vehicles, movement of aggregates during this time. The applicant has confirmed that the loading of the vehicles to leave the site early is carried out the day before.”

A petition containing 49 signatures and 12 other letters were sent into the council highlighting existing noise levels.

Paul Outhwaite, one of the objectors, said:"“I was woken at 5.09 this morning. The noise increases from 7am onwards – I have recorded noise of 69 decibels in my own home.

"A 4am start would be intolerable."

Fellow objector Nigel Bullock said: "I have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, which is a long term neurological condition, and I have been forced to make changes to my lifestyle, which include a lot more reading and hobbies that are less energetic. I now spend as much time as I can in my garden or conservatory.

"I expect nothing more than to be able to sit without having to hear these noises and the loud banging that comes from the unit.

"I ask each and every one of you how would like to live in a residential area and have to put up with these noises?"

Committee member Councillor Andrea Muckley called for the application to be refused permission. She said: "I wouldn’t want to be woken up at 5.09 by loud bangs nearby."

But nine fellow committee members instead voted to allow the change in condition for a 12-month period.

Councillor Paul Witton said: "I think we should give them the opportunity to do something about it and give them a probationary period."