Sleepless nights due to ‘horrendous’ noise for weeks at Leighton Buzzard supermarket

Residents of the Town Bridge Mill apartments, near Vimy Road, argue that they are fed up with the disruption, alleging that generators are “constantly on the go” powering cranes and other vehicles.

A number have contacted South West Beds MP Andrew Selous about the problems and he has, in turn, raised the matter with Central Beds Council.

However, the LBO was informed that the work to improve the supermarket (new fridges, aisles, and freezers have been spotted) doesn’t only cause problems at night.

One resident, who wished to remain anonymous and who even sat under a crane at midnight recently in an attempt to halt the work, claimed: “The work is going all day, impacting my own role [working from home] as I cannot carry out phone calls due to excessive noise. Generators are constantly on the go, sometimes beyond midnight.

“At 6.45am on November 8, tree surgeons were using chainsaws and a wood chipper to fell trees, which led to huge disturbance.

“When challenged, the workers advised they had raised concerns with Tesco over the work and noise and were told ‘it needed doing before the store opened at 10am’.

“Ground work was also being undertaken on November 9 after 10.30pm with pipes being hit, things being drilled and cut.”

Of his protest under the crane a couple of weeks ago, the resident claimed the site manager was called who had agreed to stop work for the night, sympathising with the residents.

The man alleged: “The noise at night has been horrendous. I’ve had to use sleeping tablets and ear plugs.

“It’s disgusting. No-one was notified about the work and people have complained to Tesco, but not heard anything back.”

Commenting on social media, another resident claimed: “I am over in Billington Park and the ongoing generator noise is horrific, especially through the night.”

It is claimed that noise has been an issue throughout the past few months, as before the upgrade work on the main supermarket started, Tesco “replaced lighting on the petrol station over several nights, rather than close the station in the day”. It is also alleged that Tesco staff sometimes jet wash delivery vans around midnight.

Central Bedfordshire Council has been informed of the disruption, and noise diaries have been given to residents, so they report disturbance at unsociable hours.

However, it has been claimed that loud noise was caused on Friday evening and Sunday evening at 11pm when cranes were moved.

The resident added: “It’s like they are ignoring the council.

“I’m sure Tesco could afford to close the store for a week to carry out work during the day. There are plenty of other supermarkets in Leighton Buzzard or people could drive to other Tescos nearby.”

Mr Selous told the LBO: “A number of local residents have contacted me about this issue. I have raised all their concerns with environmental health officers at Central Bedfordshire Council.

“While it is good to see further investment in an important local business, I am extremely sorry to learn of the upset this has caused to local residents. I am pleased to see that Tesco have apologised and are now working with the council to finish the remaining works over the next four weeks in as considerate a manner as possible.

“If any further concerns are raised with me I will, of course, address those as well.”

A spokesperson for Central Bedfordshire Council said: “We are working with Tesco and its contractors to minimise the noise whilst these works being undertaken, and we have been assured by Tesco that there will be no major noise overnight.

“The works are due to be completed by mid-December and we will continue to liaise with Tesco between now and then to minimise any disturbance to residents.”

A Tesco spokesperson said: “We’re really sorry for any inconvenience caused. We are working closely with our contractors and the local council and doing everything we can to ensure noise is kept to a minimum. We look forward to welcoming customers to the newly refreshed store in early December.”

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