A plan to set up a container depot in an area with a history of complaints about large vehicles faces stiff opposition.

Today marks the deadline for objectors to file with the Department of Planning over a proposal by Fast Forward Freight to create a site in an old quarry off Lolly’s Well Road, a residential area overlooking Harrington Sound in Smith’s.

George Corday, one of the worst-hit residents, said the road was already too busy with traffic from other businesses at the quarry site.

He added: “It’s going to be relentless if they bring in a depot for containers.”

Residents highlighted an unwanted increase in traffic, plus a known problem with trucks trying to turn from Harrington Sound Road hitting the old Deepdene mansion bridge over the main road – now known as Manor House Bridge.

Manor House Properties, a condominium owners’ association, has led objections and highlighted “unacceptable” risks from the increased traffic.

MHP added that vehicles hit the bridge “with alarming regularity”.

A letter to planning officials sent last week said there was “a long history in this area that has repeatedly demonstrated that the industrial development is injurious to the environment of the surrounding residential areas”.

The letter had links to videos that showed trucks struggle to get around the corner from Harrington Sound Road, which also blocked traffic on the main road.

The letter also highlighted increased noise pollution and run-off from the development.

It said the “continued use of this formerly residentially zoned area for industrial purposes, long after the quarry has been worked out, is an anomaly that should be corrected”.

Residents complained to The Royal Gazette about heavy trucks rumbling past their homes in 2010, when Bierman’s Concrete Products brought traffic up to the old quarry.

The site is known as Corrado Industrial Park.

The location of the latest development, on two lots on an access road called Earl’s Lane, would get 12,800 square feet for a building.

The company’s architects, Botelho Wood Architects, said the structure would be a transfer site for the freight company.

Bothelo Wood added that the proposal did not involve a storefront or manufacturing.

The letter said: “Our clients receive six containers per week, on average.

“Each container will be trucked from the Hamilton docks to the transfer facilities at lots 10 and 11 Earl’s Lane.

“Containers will be emptied as quickly as possible, and the containers delivered back to the dock for prompt return to the USA.

“The imported items will be sorted so packages can be picked up or delivered. Most packages are collected by private cars but when a package is too large for a car the packages are delivered by small trucks or vans.”

But the objection letter from residents maintained that the development would bring “hundreds” more vehicles into the area each week.

MHP told its residents the “container breakdown facility” would bring 20ft and 40ft containers up the hill to the site.

An e-mail to residents said: “Research suggests that each container may generate over 300 individual collection and delivery vehicles.”

Mr Corday said his home by the bridge meant he had seen a lot of accidents over the years.

He added: “I hear it when it gets hit – it actually shakes my house.

“Just today, a 40ft container truck was trying to get out and it had both sides of the road blocked. There’s loads of businesses up there now, but if they open it for container stripping, that means more and more heavy traffic.”

Mr Corday said the heavy traffic had already made the road “a mess”.

“Insurance companies have paid out hundreds of thousands to repair that bridge.

“Trucks come through at the centre but they pull over when something else comes up the road.

“They clip the sides of the bridge and pull off pieces of it.

“It’s done a lot of damage to the tower there, which is a protected, listed structure.”

Mr Corday added he felt “sorry” for Lolly’s Well Road residents and had already sent in his objection to the proposal.“

He said: “There’s a constant noise of the trucks. The road already takes a pounding.”

The developers did not respond to a request for comment yesterday.