Maldon councillors have unanimously agreed to delay their decision on a Latchingdon tyre-fitting garage's bid to extend its opening hours, after neighbours raised concerns about noise.

Pit Stop Tyres, at Red Lions Business Centre on Burnham Road, hopes to increase its opening hours to between 6am and 8pm from Mondays to Saturdays - it is currently open from 8am to 6pm on these days.

But Mr Bennett, who lives next to the garage, raised his objection to the plans to members of Maldon District Council's south eastern area planning committee last night (Wednesday, 8 December), noting "the excessive noise and smell from this unit over the additional 30 hours a week".

He said: "The unit carrying out the repair works sits over 75 metres away from the entrance in close proximity to our garden - never before has the use of a garden been more important for our mental health."

He added: "Working from home now, my days are disrupted with vehicles vibrating the building and video meetings being interrupted by the other two auto repair units next to the gate."

He continued: "Our house has stood for over 200 years - we ask you to refuse this application so it can continue to be a home."

Simon Warner, an agent from Warner Planning, said the extended hours are required to "allow the management team of the business to undertake admin tasks such as doing their accounts".

He said: "As those who run small businesses will understand, it's crucial to do that outside of the operating hours of your business.

"In turn, the extended hours will allow the business more economic activity which will allow more opportunities for staff and also more employment for others."

Planning officers at the district council had recommended the application for approval, with one officer telling members "the proposed extension to the operating hours would not cause harm to the amenity of any existing residents".

But she noted that Environmental Health had asked for an additional condition to be added "requesting the submission of a further noise assessment report, assessing the combined noise from all sources at the site during the extended working hours - including any necessary mitigating measures".

The condition was added in response to Environmental Health receiving complaints about noise on the site.

Councillor Adrian Fluker said: "Would anybody like to live next door to this?

"I just feel as though we would be letting someone down badly if we don't deal with this properly."

Councillor Michael Helm added: "I want to know why you'll set a precedent by extending the hours of another industrial estate beyond what is reasonable for the area, because you set a dangerous precedent there."

Members also raised concerns about whether the approved use of the application site, which falls under B1 use, allows for a tyre-fitting business.

Councillor Wendy Stamp proposed that members defer their decision-making on the application to a later date to allow for more information to be obtained on the site, including the additional noise assessment report.

This was unanimously voted through by all five members of the committee present.