A SUPERMARKET in Wrexham has been given permission to allow deliveries to take place 24 hours a day as online orders have quadrupled during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Asda store on Holt Road has already been making and receiving deliveries at night since the outbreak began in March last year.

It followed the UK Government lifting restrictions on delivery hours to enable retailers to keep stores well-stocked.

The move resulted in the chain creating 60 new jobs at the Wrexham supermarket to keep up with the increased demand for home deliveries.

The company applied in November to allow the arrangement to continue on a temporary basis until the end of this year.

The request was considered at a meeting of Wrexham Council’s planning committee meeting held yesterday (Monday, April 13).

Outlining the reasons for the application, Alan Jones, head of Asda’s local government team, said: “Over the last year, we’ve seen a fundamental change in the way customers shop, and our Wrexham store has seen online demand quadruple.

“This has led to the creation of 60 new colleague roles at the store with deliveries not just to Wrexham but to surrounding communities as far as Bala, ensuring access to food in these challenging times.

“Retail is always a fast changing environment, but the past 12 months have been unprecedented.

“By extending the delivery hours, online orders are more accurate, and picking can commence earlier through the night when customers aren’t present, which in turn helps with social distancing inside the store.

“Improved availability also fulfils customer orders better and reduces the likelihood of substitutions or missing items, reducing the need for customers to make additional trips.”

Mr Jones said the store had not received any complaints from residents since it started undertaking night-time deliveries.

He added the number of deliveries over a 24-hour period would not increase as a result of the extension of the arrangement.

However, two objections were raised with the local authority’ planning department regarding noise issues.

Residents said that sounds could be heard emanating from the store during the day and to allow it to happen at night would disturb their sleep.

Their concerns were echoed by the area’s newly-elected councillor Becca Martin at the virtual meeting.

She said: “The original temporary 24 hour provision was granted due to the exceptional pandemic situation, and it was always clear that this was going to be temporary provision.

“To extend it indefinitely would not be appropriate.

“It’s clear that all-night deliveries would be detrimental for the amenity of nearby households.”

Cllr Martin asked committee members to consider limiting the hours of deliveries from 5am until midnight.

The request to impose restrictions was opposed by several community leaders, including Ruabon councillor Dana Davies.

She said extending the overnight arrangement was necessary to help people who are shielding to get their shopping.

She said: “I think we have to be aware that the lockdown situation has extended, because it’s all dependent on the roll out of the vaccine.

“There’s still a number of our residents out there that are vulnerable health wise, and they’re still shielding.

“In all recognition to our supermarkets and the supply chain, opening up additional delivery slots has obviously benefited Wrexham economically because of the additional jobs and there’s the community benefit through the service provision as well.”

The majority of councillors backed the proposals to allow an extension of 24/7 deliveries until December 31 at the end of the debate.