Neighbours angry at shop's 24/7 delivery noise

A Co-op store's 24/7 delivery service has sparked a row with neighbours who say drivers are keeping them awake at night as they come and go into the early hours.

People living in Earlham House off Earlham Road in Norwich have complained to the city council about the problem and asked why the store was allowed to provide 24-hour deliveries close to homes.

The Co-op said that it had put signs in the window urging delivery riders to keep the noise down and had also made other changes to minimise any disturbance.

Jennifer Davies, 33, who has lived in Earlham House for four years, said: "We have hundreds of delivery drivers zooming in and out. They're rushing in, slamming on brakes, playing music.

"They don't drive slowly or respectfully.

"The kind of rules that you expect when you live in a residential area aren't really being respected."

Another neighbour, Jodie Rowe, 34, said she was being disturbed every night and has had to tell the drivers to be quiet.

"Unfortunately there have been multiple occasions where I've had to yell out my window to explain to these individuals that they are being far too loud," she said.

Meanwhile, Earlham House resident Cuthbert Varley, 31, also said he had heard music "blaring out" and that he heard a neighbour "shouting out her window" recently, but that it did not affect him.

The Co-op announced it would begin 24-hour deliveries via services like Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat in 2024, and this year the service started at the Earlham Road store.

The company said the deliveries would appeal to "consumers such as shift workers, parents of young families and late-night revellers requiring top-ups to keep their gatherings going".

People living in Earlham House claim the new service had added to the disruption already caused by stock deliveries to the store.

Rowe said she wondered if the Co-op could be in breach of its licence due to the noise issues but added that she did not blame the company directly.

"It's interfering with my ability to sleep and then function during the day. I know other residents in the building are having issues too," she said.

A Co-op spokesperson said it was working with delivery partners to "minimise any impact of the service on the local community".

"We recognise the importance of being a responsible retailer... and will continue to monitor and engage with local residents and the council."

Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats offer deliveries from the store.

A spokesperson for Just Eat said it would remind couriers working in the area to adhere to its standards, adding: "We know being a good neighbour is incredibly important to our retail partners."

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A Deliveroo spokesperson said: "We take our community responsibilities very seriously and regularly communicate with riders about respecting the communities they ride in. We are in contact with the partner in question to address these concerns."

Uber Eats did not respond to a request for comment.

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