Statement on Operations at PLP Astley

We recognise the concerns that have been raised by some local residents about our operations at PLP Astley Business Park. We take these concerns seriously and have engaged constructively with the local community, Wigan Council, and the site’s landlord, PLP, since we took the lease in February 2026 and began operating at Unit 2 in July 2026.

Whistl was granted a temporary operator’s licence for when it began transport operations at PLP Astley Business Park in July, with the application to be considered in full at a later date. The Traffic Commissioner for the North West of England has scheduled a Public Inquiry for the 10th and 11th November 2026.

Whistl is committed to meeting its licensing responsibilities and being a good neighbour. We have operated in accordance with the requirements and conditions of our temporary operator’s license since starting operations. We have taken numerous additional measures to reduce nighttime noise and paused overnight activity in the site’s yard whilst we implement these changes. We continue to monitor and assess the impact of our noise mitigation measures and have put in place a noise reporting system for local residents. 

We will continue to work with Wigan Council, our landlord PLP, and listen to residents’ concerns.

Our existing noise mitigation measures include:  

• Invested in an electric shunter to reduce noise when moving trailers around the yard.
• Invested in electric vans to reduce noise and emissions from site-related vehicle movements.
• The use of quieter on-site vehicles such as shunt units to move trailers around in our yard.
• Installation of external and internal monitors to track noise allowing the on-site team immediately to address any noise incidents at source and in real time day and night.
• Eliminating refuelling at night.
• Preventing fuel tankers from accessing the site at night.
• Changing operational practice to ensure a minimum of activity occurs at night, and any activity takes place as far from residents as possible.
• Independent acoustic monitoring – the findings of which we will share directly with the noise mitigation joint-working group.