Aldi in Sittingbourne has won planning permission to extend its opening hours and goods delivery times.

The store in East Street will be allowed to trade until 11pm from Monday to Saturday, and until 6pm on Sundays.

It will also open an hour earlier in the mornings – from 7am from Monday to Saturday, and at 9am on Sundays.

Delivery manager Grace Mollart acted as a representative for the company at a Swale council planning committee meeting on Thursday.

She said: “Our application has not been made lightly. An extension of opening hours is driven by customer demand.”

She added the entire Aldi brand had “experienced significant growth in recent years”.

Delivery vehicles will be able to load and unload goods at the shop later in the evening – from 6am to 11pm from Monday to Saturday, and from 8am to 10pm on Sundays and bank holidays.

As part of its application, Aldi agreed to build a fence around its delivery yard to shield neighbours from loading and unloading noise and lorry reversing beepers will be turned off late at night and early in the morning.

The news has divided opinion among the town’s residents.

Tracey Collier posted on Facebook: “I think extended opening hours would be good, the same as Asda and Morrisons.”

Leanne Maxwell said: “It’s a great idea. Its delivery bay area won’t affect locals due to its location.”

“Will it be any noisier than the railway line the other side of the road?" John Ives

However, some people questioned whether later opening and delivery hours were necessary.

John Ives wrote: “Will it be any noisier than the railway line the other side of the road?

“Extended opening hours doesn’t need extended delivery hours. Sadly, it’s all part of living in a town.

“If we want the convenience of close-by shopping then we have to allow them time to operate.”

Kirsty Owens said: “It’s already open until 10pm. Why should it be any later? It was empty when I went in at 8.30pm the other night.”

It is unclear when the change in operational times will begin.