‘Too Lidl Too Late’-Romford Residents Endure Ongoing Misery On Regarth Avenue.

“Way too late” said Sandra Stimpson of Regarth Avenue on behalf of other residents as yet again residents living in Regarth Avenue and Charrington Court, Atlanta Boulevard, have been enduring late night noise and disruption from late night deliveries to LIDL and misuse of the car park by yobs.

In spite of herculean efforts on the part of many Regarth residents and their local Labour Councillor, Jane Keane, to get Lidl to install a gate on the car park, lorries have been coming and going very late at night. And to add insult to injury the car park gate that local residents campaigned so hard to get had been left open. 

“It’s an invitation to yobs to create mayhem all night” said local Regarth Avenue resident, Rhonda Duprey, “I am broken by this!” 

Local Councillor Jane contacted the Council’s enforcement team and the Company. The enforcement team have asked that evidence of breaches of the planning condition governing hours of deliveries be recorded. A company spokesperson was asked by Jane why deliveries were being made outside of the consented hours and whether it was aware the gate was being left open. 

“The company said they were going through a refit,” said Jane “but that does not excuse the overnight comings and goings. There is a correct way of doing things and short cuts have been taken at the expense of my residents.”

Jane has offered to help residents complete the planning enforcement sheets but said, “It really challenges residents’ faith in the system to keep asking them to fill in witness sheets.” I can provide witnesssheets to residents until the cows come home; I cannot restore their confidence in a system that pitches residents against a multi-national store whose business model is to provide the bare minimum of staff on the ground. No wonder the Rhonda’s of this world feel broken. I really hope the store will shut the gate and communicate internally better going forward as their spokesperson has assured me they today will do. Lots of people will be watching those gates. ”

Jane added that the issue was also raised by her at the Safer Neighbourhood Ward Panel held at the Havering Museum on Tuesday 2nd September. The area around Regarth Avenue and South Street will be targeted by the local police for additional patrols to combat anti-social behaviour and drug dealing in the area. 

St Alban’s Ward Councillor Jane Keane with residents from Regarth Avenue.

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