11:40 am, January 19, 2022
Plans by Arnold Clark to add more lights to its Motorstore car supermarket in Warrington have enraged a resident, who says it’s already like the Blackpool Illuminations.
The dealership replaced a Toys R Us store on the Gemini Retail Park and has now lodged an application with Warrington Borough Council to put up two 6.5m illuminated signs to advertise the Renault and Dacia brands.
But according to the Warrington Guardian, a resident of Goldcliff Close, which is opposite the site, has objected, saying things are already so bad with lights on at the Motorstore throughout the night that ‘the local robins are singing all night thinking it is daylight’.
They added that the light is so strong that ‘since they moved into this location it has been like looking at Blackpool Illuminations every night’ and that it was similar to Wembley Stadium’s floodlights.
He says he has lived there for 30 years but that Toys R Us never caused a problem.
‘Why Arnold Clark needs to fully light up its total car park at full brightness continually at night is beyond me,’ his letter to the council’s planning committee says.
‘Maybe they should consider switching the existing lighting down before trying to introduce even more brightness with these proposed signs.’
An objection has also been raised by a fellow neighbour, who wrote: ‘The current signage and lighting is already intrusive. There is no need for any more.’
A spokesperson for Arnold Clark told Car Dealer: ‘The site at Warrington was subject to a rigorous planning application, including details of the external lighting which was approved at the time.
‘Since the branch opened, we have responded to queries from residents, dimming the lighting on our signage lettering lower than the approved light levels.
‘We believe in working closely with the local community and will investigate possibilities with our contractors to reduce light levels to create a better experience for local residents, while still ensuring we have enough lighting for our CCTV.’
