Woman in tears over noise of supermarket fridges near her home

A woman broke down in tears at a planning committee while explaining the impact of "industrial-scale" noise from refrigeration units at a branch of Aldi near her home.

Judith Richards lives opposite the store at Broughton Shopping Park in Bretton, Flintshire, which has submitted a retrospective planning application to replace its ageing external refrigeration system.

Eco-friendly carbon dioxide refrigerant units are currently being installed but some of the existing external mechanisms are just feet from residential homes.

An Aldi spokesperson said the company had "engaged with the community" over the plans and the replacement refrigerant units "will be quieter".

Richards told Flintshire County Council's planning committee that retrospective planning consent had already been given in 2018 after the store was built 20 ft (6m) closer to residential properties than agreed.

She was critical of both the company, which she said had "failed to consult with neighbouring residents" or "obtain planning consent prior to starting works to replace refrigeration units" and of the council, which she said failed to add enhanced soundproofing conditions to the consent.

Richards said the "constant noise" coming from the refrigeration units had affected residents' quality of life.

"The constant noise coming from the refrigeration units affects residents – throughout the day when fridge and freezer doors are being constantly opened and into the early hours of the morning when restocking is taking place," she said.

"This is causing distress, disruption and impacts on quality of life and home environment. Yet despite repeated attempts by neighbours to resolve the matter with Aldi, there's been little meaningful engagement and no resolution."

She also claimed a site visit related to the current application did not reflect the true level of noise experienced by residents.

"[It] was held at 10am... that is the quietest period as the fridge and freezer doors have not been opened.

"We all know our home fridges become noisy when the unit needs cooling down, imagine this on an industrial scale."

Richards then played a recording of the noise to the committee before breaking down in tears.

She called on members to impose conditions to "genuinely protect residents", such as an acoustic fence placed several feet higher than the current one, or for fencing to be installed around all sides of the refrigeration unit.

In support of Richards, councillor Gladys Healy: "If it was me [living] there, I would go mad."

James Borley, the agent representing Aldi, said the company had engaged with the community over the plans.

He said: "Aldi has sought to respond positively and responsibly throughout this process by working with Flintshire County Council officers and neighbours and has proposed additional mitigation where appropriate.

"This has included providing three additional acoustic timber fences to border the two plant areas to further reduce noise levels at the nearest residential properties on Simonstone Road and Vickers Way.

"The new replacement plant proposed will be quieter, more environmentally friendly and more efficient."

The council voted in favour of proposals for acoustic fencing on the south and western sides of the store, to be formally approved by council at a later date.