An Edinburgh Waitrose in an upmarket area withdrew their bid to extend delivery times after local residents complained.
The City of Edinburgh Council were reviewing a planning application from Waitrose to extend the times their home delivery vans could be loaded at the store.
Demand for their home delivery service has significantly increased recently and they wanted to begin loading their vans earlier in the mornings, and for longer hours on a Sunday night.
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However concerned locals were unimpressed by the bid to start deliveries at 7am every morning, and up to 10pm on a Sunday night, and there were 14 objections on the planning application.
One said: “At present, delivery lorries arrive before 8am in the morning.
“We believe that extending the delivery hours further would result in an unacceptable increase in traffic levels and noise pollution at times of day when we, and other street residents, are likely to be in our homes.
“This is unreasonable for a residential street.”
Another added: “I have lived in this flat for 23 years and the existence of the supermarket has slowly eroded the peace of an otherwise residential street.
"Over time the days and opening hours of the supermarket have been extended and after enquiring with the council at the time was informed that this could not be objected to.
“Extending the delivery hours, particularly early morning between 7 am and 8 am and on a Sunday evenings between 6 pm and 10 pm, will be detrimental to our quality of life.
“When the store closes on a Sunday at 8pm we at least have some respite from excessive traffic noise and feel it unfair that this would be eroded by delivery vehicles and activities on the roof top car park directly opposite our home.”
FirstPlan prepared the planning application on behalf of Waitrose and they explained why the new home delivery service has changed the way the supermarket operates.
A statement said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated demand for supermarket home deliveries and other online facilities (such as Click & Collect).
“Waitrose expects this demand to increase beyond the current health crisis and, as part of a significant on-going financial investment, intends to enhance the online services offered from its Morningside store, allowing more customers to benefit from home deliveries.
“Whilst the trend towards online shopping is set to continue in the future, Waitrose’s physical stores will remain the core of their business, and it is essential that they can adapt and evolve to meet changing customer needs.
“This will allow the store to continue performing its important role in meeting the convenience shopping needs of residents in the Morningside area, where the store plays an important role in supporting the vitality and viability of the wider town centre, on account of its clear role as an ‘anchor’ store.”
Waitrose withdrew the application to the City of Edinburgh Council on March 7.
