A war has been waged against illegal car washes which are operating in Wolverhampton without permission.
The land owner of a car wash business in Birmingham New Road, All Saints, said he would be shutting within days after being refused planning permission despite running for two months. And city council bosses revealed investigations were ongoing into four more across the city. The business in All Saints , which is based on land next to The Builders Arms in Derry Street, is the latest to face closure in the clampdown.
It comes just a month after a firm in Penn Road was ordered to shut after two years of operating illegally.
It was opened by Afghanistani immigrants without them realising permission was needed.
A retrospective application was submitted but planning officers refused to grant the permission saying it was detrimental to the street scene and harmful to residents and motorists.
The site owner, who refused to be named, said: “It’s not a big deal. We will be closing down this week and we hope to open a car lot here.”
There has been a boom in hand car washes in the West Midlands in recent years.
Some are operating within the legal constraints but many owners do not realise that planning permission is needed to change the use of the land.
A city council spokeswoman said a number of car washes were currently being investigated.
She said: “Most of these complaints are resolved by enforcement officers through negotiation without resorting to formal enforcement action.”
Bosses are currently waiting on an inspector’s decision about whether a car wash in Waterloo Road can continue, after owners appealed against closure, and permission has been granted to prosecute the owners of a business in Cannock Road, Park Village.
A planning contravention notice has been served following two investigations at a car wash in Lea Road, Penn Fields, and a new complaint has been received about a business in Fordhouse Road, Fordhouses.
10 Comments
About time too! Most of these places are manned by illegals and benefit fraudsters with profits no doubt being used to fund other (more sinister) activities. I have never used them out of principle and never will!
Of all the things to clamp down on, this brave, forward thinking authorities chooses the above……. - get a life Wolves Council.
so they didnt know they needed planning permission as if same old story there all over dudley as well. another new labour good for the economy business
I think it shows initiative. Its nice to they are actually getting off their backsides and earning
some money. And they always do a good job. Its a pity that many of the british scroungers that have
never worked a day in their life dont follow their example.
I have been to many of these types of carwashes, and the only one I know that was also being used for
other more sinister dealings was run by a british chav in wolverhampton ! So what does that tell you !
it tells you clare that your a left wing IDIOT!
also he was probably english NOT british.
stop taking englands identity awy.
Come on if its ilegal it wrong. It makes no difference where they come from!
Our country has laws for a reason everyone has to abide by them!
They need to have licences and declare there income like everyone else. You have to put in to the system if you want to take from it
I work with loads of immigrants and listen to their brags and boasts about how much they claim and receive , and know that it comes out of my taxes and is the reason I will probably never get a pension or be able to afford to live out my days in comfort despite paying taxes for 30 plus years .
Many of them work under assumed names working 2 jobs and still claim unemployment benefit and housing etc…
So why should it be wrong for me to want to abduct them and sell their bodyparts on e bay ?
I will need to get a pension somehow.
It was opened by Afghanistani immigrants
without them realising permission was needed.
….. Rhubarb. If you believe that you’ll believe anything.
Ignorance is no excuse, for us…
Why does E & S always have to mention Race or ethnicity - just so they can start all the igonorant comments???
Do we have any headlines stating - “White Anti-social Yobs on street corners drinking”? - No didnt thik so!
Anayway - how many of you (apart from Claire) atually have the guts to admit that you have used these car washes without even realising they are illegal??