ROMSEY residents have taken a swipe at plans to extend delivery hours at a budget supermarket, claiming they will have to endure noisy lorries for longer.

Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) received a planning application which could see Aldi, in The Hundred, taking deliveries from 7am until 9pm on Sundays and public holidays.

Currently, the German supermarket can accept deliveries from 8am until 6pm on these days.

Critics of the controversial application also fear delivery vehicles will pump more "exhaust fumes" into the environment if the plans are given the green light.

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A retired couple who live above the shop, Robert and Eileen Waddell, said: "There continues to be significant noise disruption and extremely unpleasant exhaust fumes from the articulated vehicles making deliveries.

"An extension to the opening hours on a Sunday will only exacerbate the issue.

"We are a retired couple who sought to live in Romsey in peace and, while we appreciate that not all noise can be removed from Aldi, the timing and volume of deliveries will influence our quality of life."

Another resident said: "Over the Christmas period they [Aldi] worked 24/7 and if I want to get some sleep I have to leave my flat and go and sleep in my camper van which is not nice to do in the winter.

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"So, to hear you [TVBC] are even considering letting them work even more hours is 100 per cent unacceptable.

"I have already been told by an estate agent the noise I get in my flat (85 decibels have been recorded at 3am) would make it near impossible for me to sell the flat.

"It's worth nowhere near what I bought it for due to this reason."

Another person who objected to the plans believes the application would "increase noise nuisance for residents", while claiming pollution could increase as "vehicles are usually left with engines and coolers running".

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Romsey Town Council also "strongly" object to the application and said "the current hours are very generous considering the amount of residential property" in the area.

Aldi has been contacted for comment.