Neighbours have labelled the construction of a storage building behind their homes as 'hell'. Local business Ken Wilkins Print Group, which produces much of the food packaging for the UK's leading supermarkets, is currently finishing a temporary building at the back of Valeside Gardens, Colwick, but it has been met with disapproval by some nearby homeowners.
The family-run company is currently expanding its Road One factory by 44,000 square metres, which it says will create new opportunities for local employment. The Wilkins Group has said that as a result of this, a new storage building was needed, with the land already having permission for a temporary storage structure.
Angered neighbours have raised concerns over the closeness of the new building to their homes and over the construction process. A Valeside Gardens resident, who did not want to be named, and whose garden is behind the new building, labelled the construction a "blooming eyesore".
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"It is a blooming eyesore. It's right through our window, two years it could be here," she said. "We've had all the work of it going up and even lorries parking right near our fence. It has been hell, we're contacting the Fire Service because we think it is a safety risk.
"The noise has been terrible for the last week. And we've had palettes right next to our garden for three months.
"It started the day after Mayday I think. We didn't get any notice it just went up."
The land where the new storage area has been constructed was designated as an industrial area from January 1918, with the Wilkins Group factory at the far end of Road Eight used as production facility from 1972. The homes were built next to the industrial area at a later date.
Neil Foulkes, 59, who lives a few houses down from the new building, said that he was concerned about the safety of the storage unit. "We weren't told before it went up. It has certainly stirred a few people up," Mr Foulkes, who is a retired health and safety manager, said.
"If I lived any closer I would be furious with it. I feel a lot for the neighbours who live closer and have it next to their garden.
"The building should be a good few feet further away. I do not think enough attention has been given to the fire risk - it will be filled with cardboard and other stuff that would be combustible."
In 2000, Wilkins Group moved their packaging production operation to a new facility on Road One, leaving the ground floor of the building at Road Eight to be used for storage. Another neighbour said that he understood people's concerns, but was not impacted himself.
Martin Reffin, 27, who has lived on the street for four years, said: I've just bought a house down here and I can see why people are upset by it.
"I know people have been complaining about it. And it doesn't look great when you walk past but it is an industrial area.
"I suppose it would be a pain if it was at the back of your garden. I live a bit down the street though so it doesn't really affect me."
Wilkins Group has a 300-strong workforce and a multi-million pound annual turnover. It previously shared that it would be expanding and taking on more staff in 2022.
Wilkins Group told Nottinghamshire Live the new temporary storage building was part of the expansion of the business and that all safety precautions were being taken. They added that no further planning permission or notice was required for the temporary structure to be built.
