Aldi fined for ‘illegal’ deliveries

Aldi Stores admitted four offences of failing to heed a formal warning about deliveries at its store in Cambridge Road, Grimsby, which are only allowed between 7.30am and 7.30pm.

Magistrates in the town heard that between July 23 and 27 this year, four deliveries had been made outside these hours; at 6.55am, 6.58am, 6.48am and 7.13am.

North East Lincolnshire Council said the deliveries had disturbed residents. A company representative said the firm had since invested £60,000 improving its systems, including installing a tracking technology on vehicles and displaying signs stating that deliveries are not to be made before 7.30am.

The firm was fined £400 for each offence and told to pay £440 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Jason Longhurst, the council’s head of development, said: “The council’s enforcement officers took this action on behalf of local residents and this reflects the more proactive approach we are taking to enforcing planning breaches.”