Car wash firm denied right to use power jets

A car cleaning firm lost its fight to use power jets to wash vehicles after councillors turned up at the site to the sound of them allegedly already in use.

Crystal Clean Car Wash, in Tranent, had appealed to have a ban on using the power washers as part of their service overturned after it was imposed as part of planning permission for the business.

However a meeting of East Lothian Council’s Local Review Body heard that during a site visit by members ahead of hearing the appeal, the sound of what appeared to be power jets in use could be heard from across the street.

One committee member said the noise rose above the sound of traffic on the busy street and would affect residents living near it.

Councillor Colin Yorkston said: “I certainly could hear the house of what I assume was a power washer being used over the general noise in the area and that was from a short distance away from the site.”

While fellow committee member Councillor Donna Collins added: “We were about 50 metres away and could hear the noise of the washer being used.”

A planning officer at the meeting said that while photographs from a site visit appeared to show a power jet in use they did not have first hand knowledge that it was the case and could not confirm it.

Operators of the business applied to planners to have a condition barring the use of power jets lifted arguing it was restricting the potential of the service but the application was rejected.

Arguing for the lifting of the ban, they say: “The use of pressure washers is a common practice in modern day car washes and it’s complete restriction impacts on the potential commercial success of the business which makes an economic contribution to the local area.”

And they pointed out the service, which is on Ormiston Road, was just yards from a self service jet wash in the neighbouring petrol station.

However officers who rejected the bid to remove the ban pointed out operators knew this condition was an integral part of the business being allowed to go ahead and should not have proceeded if they were not prepared to comply with it.

Councillor Yorkston also told the committee that he was a regular visitor to the petrol station next door and the jet wash there was used “once on a blue moon”.

The Local Review Body unanimously rejected the appeal and said the ban should remain.