'˜Sleep Factory' extension could be put to bed as neighbours fear being kept awake at night

Bedding manufacturers The Sleep Factory Ltd, in Ossett, wants to expand so it  can store more furniture.

Plan to open new indoor market in city centre welcomedBut the scheme has been strongly opposed by people living nearby , who say there are already problems with noise and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) travelling to and from the site, on St Oswald’s Place.

The road is thought to be too narrow to accommodate industrial traffic and some say the area is now a danger to children.

Rise in number of people in Wakefield caught with knives and gunsObjecting to the extension at Wakefield Council’s planning committee on Thursday, resident Paul Jackson said: “This will mean more HGVs than we’ve got at the moment.

“This will mean more staff and it could become a 24/7 operation. There will be more noise making it harder for residents to get peace.”

Council officers have recommended HGVs be banned from St Oswald’s Place after 8pm on weekdays, if the plans are approved.

But councillors expressed concerns about the area’s safety.

All Poundworld stores and Normanton headquarters to closePlanning officer Andrew Schoolar told the committee: “Access is poor. The road’s not wide enough as it is.

“The fact that you get industrial traffic passing by residents’ houses is not ideal.

“This will continue irrespective of whether or not the application is approved or not.”

If allowed, the Sleep Factory would be extended by 255 square metres.

Nobody from the company attended the committee meeting and the firm could not be reached for comment afterwards.

Coun Tony Wallis said: “I think the problem here is that the factory has grown to such an extent that it’s in the wrong place. There are problems here.

“It’s quite clear that the highways is inadequate.”

Councillors voted to delay a decision on the plans to allow for further scrutiny.