Neighbours of a supermarket have persuaded councillors to block plans that would have placed recycling facilities in sight of their flats.

Sainsbury’s in Sury Basin, north Kingston, applied for planning permission to move its recycling site from near the pedestrian entrance off Richmond Road to the north east corner of the car park.

Fifteen of the 386 neighbours consulted objected because of noise and disturbance, visual amenity and the recycling facilities becoming less accessible.

Darren Hancock, of the Kew Court tenants’ association, addressed councillors at Kingston town planning sub-committee on Wednesday, July 20.

He said rubbish currently overflowed from the containers on a regular basis, and residents were concerned the value of their homes would fall because they would see the rubbish from their windows.

Will Kumar, planning consultant for Sainsbury’s, said the proposals were designed to rebrand the store, and the company was very willing to listen to residents’ concerns.

However, Councillor Andrea Craig said she had not to date found the company receptive to complaints from residents.

Councillors voted by three votes to two to reject the application because of the effect on visual amenity.