Residents Rally Against Noise Pollution from New Warehouses in Tyldesley

Life in Tyldesley, Greater Manchester, has taken a turn for the worse for residents of the Henfold Estate, following the completion of the Astley Business Park. This development, featuring towering warehouses, has been a source of frustration for long-time inhabitants like Stephen Retford, a 70-year-old retired police officer who has lived in the area for four decades.

Retford's home, once surrounded by scenic fields, now faces the imposing structure of a warehouse just beyond his garden. The noise generated from the facility, particularly from Whistl, the first company to operate there, has left him and his neighbors struggling to cope. "The noise is 24/7. It is constant throughout the night," Retford lamented, describing the situation as akin to sleeping in a motorway service station.

Since its completion in January 2026, Whistl has been conducting operations around the clock, prompting outrage among local residents who feel their quality of life has been severely compromised. Retford, frustrated with Wigan Council's decision to permit both the construction and the overnight operations, voiced his discontent: "If you ever want to crush a community, build them in the first place, and then give the occupants a 24/7 operation permit." He is part of the Astley Warehouse Action group, which has united residents against the noise pollution caused by the business park.

John Peters, another resident and leader of the action group, noted that the impact of Whistl's operations has exceeded their worst expectations. "We didn’t realize the volume of a national logistics company operating metres away from your house - the volume and the impact that would have on the local residents," he said, emphasizing the severe disruption caused by nighttime noise.

Recent sound monitoring assessments have confirmed that the noise levels from Whistl's operations significantly exceed the acceptable limits, causing distress to residents living nearby. The monitoring revealed that noise levels surpassed the night-time background level by 18 to 26 decibels, indicating a considerable adverse impact. This has led the action group to demand intervention from the Wigan Council's environmental health department to halt Whistl's nighttime operations until the issues are addressed.

Despite an acoustic fence intended to mitigate the noise, residents claim it has proven ineffective. Retford described it as a "big, ugly wooden fence" that fails to block out the relentless sounds of trucks and operations, exacerbating their living conditions. "It’s almost impossible to live here," he said, highlighting the ongoing battle against the disturbances.

In response to community concerns, Whistl has expressed willingness to engage with residents to find solutions. During a recent meeting, the firm presented proposals aimed at reducing nighttime noise and committed to ongoing monitoring of the situation. A spokesperson for Whistl stated, "We hope to soon reach agreement on further nighttime noise reduction actions we can take now while we work together towards a long-term solution." Meanwhile, Wigan Council has reaffirmed its commitment to addressing residents’ concerns and exploring additional options if necessary.

Source: www.independent.co.uk