Family's 'nightmare' as wall hit by delivery lorries

A man has said living in his first home has been a "nightmare" after the front garden wall was hit several times in three years by lorries delivering to his neighbouring convenience store.

Sam Dodd, 27, said he was worried for his one-year-old son's safety, and the weight of the lorries delivering to the Sainsbury's Local store next to his home on Torr Top Street in New Mills, Derbyshire, was impacting its structural integrity.

He said he had spent thousands of pounds on repairs, instructing surveyors and solicitors, but Sainsbury's had not resolved the issue.

Sainsbury's said: "We want to be a good neighbour to the residents who live around our stores and take concerns like this seriously."

Dodd said the front garden wall of his 19th Century terraced house had been demolished twice by lorries and he had instructed a solicitor to write to Sainsbury's, but after six months the supermarket chain had yet to give "any substantive response".

The carpenter and joiner said up to eight lorries visited the store a day.

Dodd said his son had just started walking, adding: "It's stressful anyway, obviously, but this adds a lot to it, worrying about his safety outside."

He said there were also cracks on his home from structural damage caused by the weight of the lorries and a structural engineer told him the gable wall "has succumbed to lateral pressures caused by Sainsbury's vehicles on the loading bay area".

The engineer had recommended no vehicles park within 2.5m (8.2ft) of the property, Dodd added.

"This report was included in our solicitor's letter to them and they continue to park inches from our gable wall," he said.

Dodd said he had spent money on a stud wall to visually straighten the living room wall, where there was bowing.

"There's solicitors fees, structural engineers fees, but the main thing is all the time we've put into it," he said.

He said Sainsbury's had always been quick to "slap up" the garden wall when it was damaged, however, "the gate and the other things, they're ignoring".

Dodd said: "Moving into your first home, it's a memorable thing. This has made it a bit of a nightmare."

On one occasion, huge stones from the wall "bounced off the front door".

"My nana was visiting and she had to climb over the rubble to get in the front door," Dodd said.

He said he was also concerned about the future saleability of the house, as these problems were "obviously going to blight the value".

Sainsbury's added: "We are in touch with Mr Dodd through our insurers who are investigating these claims."

The company also said notices were going up in the loading bay to warn lorry drivers, and they would be encouraged to use the car park to turn around in future.

Councillor Charlotte Hill, cabinet member for highways at Derbyshire County Council, said: "I'm sorry to hear about the plight faced by Mr Dodd and totally understand his anger and frustration.

"We are aware of his concerns and were contacted by High Peak Borough Council in April about them.

"We advised that a weight limit on the road wouldn't solve the problem as it wouldn't stop lorries - which have legitimate access - delivering to the store.

"I will write to Sainsbury's asking for their co-operation in helping local residents by ensuring they co-ordinate their deliveries and make sure drivers delivering to or collecting from the shop know of the tight bend and take extra care when manoeuvring."

Listen to BBC Radio Derby on Sounds and follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.