Poundstretcher could lose its bid to extend lorry operating hours to and from its national headquarters.
The from its former HQ in Huddersfield, to another base in Leicestershire, which it opened 10 years ago.
A planning application to relax the rules currently restricting HGV operating hours at the Desford Lane base has attracted widespread criticism from people living nearby, and is now being recommended for refusal by local planning officers.
Residents who live near the company’s Kirby Muxloe base have been opposing plans to extend the hours of its warehousing operation.
Poundstretcher’s parent company Crown Crest says the increase in traffic would be negligible but more than 300 objections have been submitted to planning officers at Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council.
There have also been a string of roadside protests – including one outside the gates of the Desford Lane complex.
Objectors are concerned about more HGVs passing by their homes – particularly in the evenings - more pollution, noise and potential danger to pedestrians.
The company’s delivery hours are currently restricted to 6am to 7pm from Monday to Friday and 8am to 3pm on Saturdays with no operations on Sundays or Bank Holidays.
It has relocated it head office and main operations from Huddersfield to Desford and now says it needs ‘more operational flexibility’ which would be provided by being able to deliver up to 11pm during the week and 6pm on Saturdays.
Crown Crest also wants 9am to 1pm hours on a Sunday.
The application will be discussed by the council’s planning committee next week but planning officers have advised councillors to refuse it.
A council planning spokesman said the complex’s hours of operation already have a significant impact on the living conditions of people near the site.
He said: “The increase in hours would give rise to further significant impacts for longer periods during the day and significant periods over the weekend which would be detrimental to the residential amenity currently experienced by residents.”
Charnwood MP Ed Argar has backed the objectors saying the current arrangement is the best balance between the needs of the firm, which employs 260 staff on site, and the residents.
Kirby Muxloe and Desford parish councils have opposed the extended opening hours as have district and borough councillors for the area.
Poundstretcher said it would mean HGVs no longer had to park up overnight on neighbouring roads because of the “restrictive” delivery hours.
