Operators of a Willenhall hand car wash which has been running illegally for two years have refused to shut up shop, despite being ordered to do so by the council.
Cars and lorries regularly turn up throughout the day and even at night to use the business, which is based at the corner of Shepwell Green and Fletchers Lane, much to the annoyance of many of the families living nearby.
The vehicle wash is on the car park of the Maha Shiv Shakti Mandir Hindu worship centre, next to McDonald’s.
No planning permission exists for the business which has been served with an enforcement notice by Walsall Council ordering it to close down.
Despite the notice the car wash remains open and the authority says it is now in the process of taking the owners to court.
One resident, who asked not to be named, said: “Lots of people round here are getting fed up with the constant noise and the general volume of traffic visiting the site, particularly the large number of lorries.
“It’s getting beyond a joke and I can’t believe they are still operating. It seems to be taking forever for something to be done about it.”
Council head of planning David Elsworthy said: “We have served an enforcement notice against the operators of a hand car wash at the corner of Shepwell Green and Fletchers Lane which is operating without planning permission.
“They have not complied with the requirements of the notice and therefore we have now started legal proceedings against the operators.”
The car wash has provoked anger among nearby residents who claim it is operating between 8am and 8pm seven days a week.
No-one from the car wash was available to comment.
In Wolverhampton an illegal hand car wash closed down last month after three years of trading illegally.
Co-owner Padr Khan said he kept running the business in Penn despite not having planning permission because he knew of other car washes operating illegally.
6 Comments
Send in the troops - arrogance of the people who the hell do they think they are?
here we go again,looks like a person who does not understand basic English law,the law is the law,and most British law abiding citizens know this,I hope he gets a very hefty fine for being stupid,and has learned not to be so greedy.
CONFISCATE ALL EQUIPMENT AND CRUSH IT JUST LIKE
CAR TAX EVADERS
SAME SCUM !!!
I wonder if his VAT is up to date? Maybe the VAT inspector would have more teeth than the council
I agree with stu, please note vat inspectors,but I dont think it will do much good taking their buckets and spunges off them as suggested by mr/s,they will have no tools to go and earn a honest living,
maybe the council should look at the business rates as well they seem to appear all over by us overnight quite easy send the dss inspector to see if on benefits as well while there at it