‘It’s a feeling of being screwed over’: once-quiet village despairs over ‘monster’ warehouse

Residents of Astley in Greater Manchester will tell public inquiry next week of cacophony' of noise causing sleep deprivation and depression

When Stephen Retford retired from the police in 2006, he looked forward to a quiet life after nearly three decades catching villains. But now the former detective has landed another big case - one that is extremely close to home.

It's the total injustice of it," the 70-year-old seethed, staring up at the 18-metre-high mega-warehouse that looms over the quiet village of Astley in Greater Manchester. Residents are up in arms about the monster" construction, likening it to having a cruise ship in our back garden".