RESIDENTS are calling for an apology from a supermarket, after the chain employed workmen to carry out resurfacing works at its car park into the early hours of the morning.

It’s been claimed roadworks at Hitchin ASDA were carried out until 4am one morning, with works on other nights continuing past 1am.

Residents living in Queen Street were only given about four days notice – the legal minimum – and were kept up by the noise and vibrations when the works were carried out on June 14, 15, and 16.

Adam McDowall, who lives next to the car park, said: “The house was shaking from the machinery. We felt the whole house vibrate.

“We were really shocked they hadn’t bothered to let us know much in advance. Lots of people had work on Monday, and would have been kept up.

“I think it’s pretty disgraceful.”

Mr McDowall, 32, had been on holiday and did not got back until the Saturday, when residents were first kept up by the noise.

He said an undated letter had been posted through the letterbox while he was away. As well as stating works would be carried out late on the dates concerned, it also said work had already begun during the day on the site.

Mr McDowall tried ringing an emergency number on the letter, but could not get through to anyone. He has now written to the supermarket demanding answers.

“We wish to know why ASDA remaining open all day Saturday, Sunday and Monday is more important than the large number of residents surrounding the store being able to sleep – especially as two of the nights were work nights – and enjoy their homes in relative peace,” he said.

“It was not only the noise late at night and the vibrations, but we also had to deal with floodlights, and the smell of tar and asphalt.”

Fellow resident Adam McDowall, 32, said: “We’ve had issues with Asda since moving in last Autumn with litter thrown into our garden, noisy Friday and Saturday nights after closing, when people use the unattended car park to race around in cars or play loud music whilst drinking and chatting. The resurfacing works have really been the last straw though, and whilst I don’t suppose anyone dreams of having a supermarket as a neighbour, I find Asda are making our location unnecessarily intolerable.”

An ASDA spokesman said: “We are constantly looking to improve the shopping experience for our customers at our Hitchin store, and they told us our car park needed a bit of TLC. We carried out the work over three nights to make as little impact as possible, and the local environmental health officer gave us the all clear that we weren’t being too noisy.

“We’re sorry to those families who feel, despite our efforts, we didn’t do enough to avoid disruption.”