Whistl to end overnight operations at ‘cruise ship’ warehouse complex in Wigan borough after noise complaints

A logistics firm will end overnight transport operations at a huge site in the borough after admitting noise “has had an impact on nearby residents”.

Whistl started around-the-clock operations at the controversial “cruise ship” warehouse complex in Astley in July.

It was the first business to move into Astley Business Park, a PLP development dogged by issues since construction started more than a year ago.

Some homes are just 30m from the site and residents have reported issues with noise, with some complaining of sleep disturbance, banging and background hum, since 24-hour operations, including numerous HGV movements, began.

The company has now agreed to cease transport operations between midnight and 6am.

The Astley Warehouse Action Group recently commissioned a noise report which claimed levels were above thresholds.

It said “residents have been woken throughout the night since Whistl opened”.

Whistl has now acknowledged “that our operations at PLP Astley have had an impact on nearby residents, particularly in relation to night-time noise” and said it takes concerns “very seriously”.

A Whistl spokesperson said: “Following a meeting between the Astley Warehouse Action Group, Wigan Council and Whistl, the residents have agreed to our proposal to cease night-time transport operations in and from the yard from September 7 while we work on measures to reduce noise from our operations below the appropriate threshold.

“The processing of mail and parcels will continue within the depot and we will adjust our transport operations to ensure that we meet our commitments to Whistl customers.

“The residents are reviewing our second proposal to work together on further noise reduction measures and a jointly agreed robust process for measuring their effectiveness.”

Whistl said it will meet the action group “to review progress on these actions, working in collaboration to determine whether they are having the desired effect of reducing the night-time noise and the disruption Astley residents have experienced”.

Other measures to mitigate noise include the use of quieter on-site vehicles such as shunt units to move trailers around, preventing fuel tankers accessing the site at night and attempting to ensure activity takes place as far from residents as possible.

The Whistl spokesperson added: “We remain committed to being a responsible neighbour and supporting the local Astley residents who need and deserve to have their concerns addressed.

“We are confident that the measures agreed will go a long way towards reducing night-time noise, while we continue to work to find a longer-term solution between Whistl, Astley residents, Wigan Council and the site owner PLP.”

A spokesperson for Astley Warehouse Action Group said: “This is a big change. Six hours of guaranteed respite will make some difference.

“Whistl’s statement now publicly acknowledges that their operations are impacting residents, particularly through night-time noise.

“They’ve also described the independent noise report that was released by Murray Acoustics two weeks ago as a ‘quality piece of work’ and accepted there is a real issue.

“But this isn’t job done, the recognised UK night-time period is 11pm to 7am and Whistl’s own figures show movements increasing significantly immediately before and after the six-hour shut-down. We’ll keep monitoring and pushing for more restrictions.

“For 18 months we’ve been warning what would happen when these warehouses became operational. Now it’s happened and the evidence backs us up.”