Family forced to leave home as Wolverhampton residents hit out at demolition works for new Lidl store
Last year Wolverhampton Council gave planning permission for the site to be cleared
A Wolverhampton resident says they were forced to ask their daughter and baby grandchild to move out of their home due to the noise and disruption caused by demolition works at the former F A Gill abattoir site on Parkfield Road.
The site is currently being cleared ahead of the construction of a new Lidl supermarket, but some neighbours claim the works have had a significant impact on their daily lives.
One Parkfield Road resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said the constant drilling and unpredictable noise had become too much for their family.
"I have had to ask my daughter and her baby to go and live with her partner because the baby has developed some anxiety due to the drilling and the unpredictable noises," the resident said.
The resident also raised concerns about communication surrounding road closures linked to the redevelopment, claiming local households were left without adequate notice.
"A few weeks ago they put out a notice saying they were going to close the road for three days, but it went on for more than 10 days," they said.
"I wrote them a letter complaining because they did not give me access to my driveway and the closure meant I could not get out onto the road.
"They didn't give us residents on this street any warning, they just put out a general notice saying the road would be closed. They didn't notify us specifically even though we were the ones affected."
As well as noise concerns, the resident said dust generated by the demolition had spread across nearby properties.
"The dust has covered my driveway and my car, and it has covered my garden and my decking too," they said. "They haven't taken that into consideration, and they should have some way of stopping this from happening."
The resident said they felt those living closest to the site had not been properly considered during the demolition process.
"They think because this is a deprived community they can carry on with the job for 10 hours a day," they added.
Similar concerns have also been raised on social media. Posting on X, local resident Pete Smith criticised the demolition works while welcoming the new supermarket development.
He wrote: "Nice to see you're building a new store in Wolverhampton. It's a shame the demolition team have no regard for the local residents. Been on since 8:00 this morning. The noise and dust is getting unbearable. No dust suppression to be seen."
A Lidl spokesperson said: “We completely understand the frustration caused by recent construction work and thank local residents for their patience as we work with contractors to minimise noise and dust ahead of expected summer road closures.
“These temporary disruptions will ultimately allow us to deliver a fantastic new store for Wolverhampton, creating around 40 new jobs and bringing our affordable, high-quality products to the local community.
“We are incredibly excited to be a step closer to opening our doors and thank everyone for their ongoing support.”
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