Car wash site is like a 'shanty town garage'

PLANS seeking approval for a heavily criticised retrospective car wash have received a “refuse and enforce” outcome.

- By DANIEL HODGSON

Middlesbrough councillors heard the pros and cons of the proposals at a planning committee meeting, held on Thursday, November 6.

Andy Glossop, from the council’s planning department, explained that the site in question is situated in a “prominent” location, on the corner of Cargo Fleet Lane and Bournemouth Avenue, the latter leading into a wider residential estate.

He said that formerly, the plot of land served as a petrol filling station, with an understanding that such use ceased approximately 25-30 years ago.

Planning permission was then granted in 2004 for 13 flats on the site, but it is understood such permission no longer exists.

There were several resident objections and the officer recommendation was to refuse and enforce, with four reasons.

Local resident Christopher Woodhouse, who spoke to The Gazette on site two days prior, laid out his objections to the planning committee.

He said that the people working there were using a high power jet washer, which was causing run off into the water system and onto the main roads.

He described the traffic as “absolutely horrendous’ going on to say that the noise is “unbelievable” and alleged that opening hours occasionally went on for longer than what they were seeking permission for.

Exasperated by the whole situation, he said: “It’s just craziness’,