COUNCIL planning chiefs have launched an investigation into a raft of complaints from residents about an Alsager trading estate.

Cheshire East Council says it is in discussion with the owner at Excalibur Industrial Trading Estate about the number of CCTV cameras installed on site. It is also looking into light pollution issues after residents complained their homes were being illuminated by the glare of floodlights.

The residents of Fields Road, some of whom made their case to Alsager Town Council's December meeting, say their lives are also blighted by HGV lorries travelling into and out of the industrial estate.

Ian Scott told the council meeting there were 40 floodlights left permanently on from 4pm through to 8am the following morning.

He said: "The intense lights are visible from people's upstairs windows and gardens and this impacts on our quality of life, the local wildlife and it also has energy implications."

Another Fields Road resident, Paul Tyson, said in the evenings he "lives mostly in daylight" due to the floodlights.

The meeting was told that 19 CCTV cameras have also been erected across the site, but residents question whether planning permission should have been sought for them.

They also say HGVs approach the industrial estate via a section of Fields Road, despite vehicle weight restrictions, have knocked down a highways sign and have persistently parked outside their homes.

The meeting heard that replacement CCTV has been installed and one of those cameras does not comply with permitted development.

A Cheshire East Council spokesperson said: "We are looking into the matter of security cameras at this location and we are in discussions with the site owner about the number of CCTV cameras that currently have been installed under permitted development regulations and the one camera which does not comply.

"We will also look into the matter of light pollution.

"In relation to the use of Fields Road by HGVs and damage to a street sign, this will be looked into by the council's highways service with a view to replacing the sign and assessing how best to deter HGVs from using this road to reach the trading estate."

A spokesman for site owners Sandyford Properties said: "As we are a locally-owned and run family property business we treat matters such as this seriously. We hope that any concerns that the residents and the Town Council have are resolved promptly.

"I can confirm that we have been liaising with Cheshire East Council regarding complaints made by local residents and have since put Cheshire East directly in contact with the tenant."