A supermarket chain has changed the delivery times to one of its branches a year after residents launched a campaign against the "chaos" caused by its lorries.
Sainsbury's opened a 'Local' branch in The Broadway, Woodford Green, in December 2011 but soon attracted criticism when 40ft delivery vehicles began causing traffic gridlock by parking outside at the peak of the morning rush-hour.
After The Guardian highlighted the concerns the chain agreed to use smaller vans and announced it would only deliver in the morning after 10am, but the complaints continued.
It has now been confirmed this week that Sainsbury's has now shifted its main bulk daily deliveries to 10pm instead, although it will continue to have daily "quick" drop-offs of fresh produce before 8am.
The news has been greeted with a mixed response from campaigners.
Mark Catchlove, 54, of nearby King’s Avenue, said: "It is about time they changed it and I am glad that the community has had some impact on them.
"However there is a risk with late-night deliveries that it will disturb people living nearby, especially those above the shops in The Broadway."
Caroline Kamstra-White, 51, of Monkhams Avenue, agreed.
She said: "The way it's been recently with the smaller vehicles was probably the best worst-case scenario, but night-time deliveries could disturb people.
"It is difficult to say at this early stage but I think Sainsbury's should have asked people before making this change."
But ward councillor Jim O'Shea said he hoped the new delivery time would resolve many of the issues previously raised.
He added: "I really commend the manager of Sainsbury's for his efforts at continuing to try and find a solution. It's been a real bugbear for so many people."
A spokeswoman for Sainsbury's said the residents' campaign, which was backed by Woodford Green MP Iain Duncan Smith, was the reason for the change in delivery times.
She said: "We are sensitive to the impact of deliveries on residents in the area.
"We have been looking at delivery times for a while and have now found a way to move them to 10pm.”
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