A supermarket chain has told a haulier not to deliver to its Romford store outside specified times after concerns about late-night drop-offs there.

Lidl in Atlanta Boulevard has been subject to ongoing campaigns for years from neighbours calling for an intervention due to noise from late-night lorries. 

Rhonda May, 64, previously told the Recorder how deliveries would sometimes arrive well after 11pm and sometimes around 2am. 

This is despite the supermarket’s delivery and collection times being between 7am and 9pm on Monday to Friday, and between 10am and 5pm on Sundays and Bank or Public Holidays. 

While things did improve after a breach of service notice was issued in late October, Rhonda said last month that lorries still turned up outside of the supermarket’s allotted hours, and that her sleep continued to be affected. 

“I just wanted it sorted,” she said. “It’s not done my health any good, and it’s upsetting.”

Romford Recorder: Rhonda May is one of several residents to have spoken of the impact the deliveries have hadRhonda May is one of several residents to have spoken of the impact the deliveries have had (Image: Archant)

A Lidl spokesperson said at the time that an internal investigation was launched after it learned about the breaches, and that it found them to be isolated incidents. 

They added the company is in “direct contact” with Havering Council, and that it has “taken steps to mitigate the risk of reoccurrence, including updating the delivery schedule”. 

Ward councillor Jane Keane has now said that, since meeting with the council’s planning department, she has been informed that Lidl has put a plan in place to refuse future collections outside of hours. 

Romford Recorder: Cllr Jane KeaneCllr Jane Keane (Image: Jane Keane)

Referring to the incidents following the breach of notice, Cllr Keane said: “There’s clearly going to be a little bit of time between the serving and its impact. 

“It’s possible that in the weeks after, that practice has been continued and things not put in place.” 

A Lidl spokesperson confirmed it has reminded its third-party haulier that deliveries must not be made outside of the conditions. 

Rhonda however said she remains unconvinced that things will change. 

“I have sent new photos and video evidence, and it’s still not enough,” she said. 

“It is wearing me down now and taking its toll on my health.” 

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To help tackle any potential future breaches, Cllr Keane is asking residents to keep diaries of events as evidence. 

This, she said, is “so they can work out if it’s an unfortunate accident or is there’s a regular pattern of breaches”. 

“We all need to do our part.”