Car wash proposed for former petrol station site

by Lisa Reeves

Friday 15^th July 2016

Fri 15^th Jul 2016

Plans have been submitted to create a car wash business on the site of a former petrol station.

Shines are applying to change the use of the Kings Arms Service Station site, located off Alderley Road, where the building has been demolished and the debris has been removed leaving the site clear and vacant.

In addition to creating a hand car wash and valeting service, they are also proposing to build a manager's office, staff room, customer waiting room and storage room on the site.

Additionally, they intend to add a new drainage channel to collect any additional water from the spraying of cars, to prevent the water from passing onto the public footpath.

The business will employ 4 full time and 4 part-time members of staff and be open from 8am to 7pm Monday to Saturday and 9am to 5.30pm on Sundays.

The scheme includes the installation of remote control bollards to protect site after business hours and a new boundary wall between the proposed hand car wash and the parking area of the Kings Arms pub.

The planning application can be viewed on the Cheshire East Council website by searching for planning reference 16/3309M. The last date for submitting comments is 3rd August and a decision is expected by 1st September.

Tags:: Planning Applications

Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Pete Taylor

Saturday 16^th July 2016 at 8:32 pm

Well, I'm sure that will gives folks a good impression of the town, as they enter from the South.
I hope the new drainage channel does work because, as you can see from the photo, the out-sourced CEC Highways drains do not, because they are not cleared.

Nick Jones

Sunday 17^th July 2016 at 10:36 am

I think this land is owned by Robinson's brewery, (and they can do with it whatever they want ) but is this really the best use for their land ?
Strikes me they would make more money allowing it to be used as a car park... of some sort ( pay or otherwise ) to service a public need.... I note the machines / pumps that were located there have been moved .. Has the ground [sic] been fully de-toxified ?? as there was no other reason to do it.
The Car wash adjacent to the Wagon and Horses @ Handforth conveniently blocks the A34 at one end of town...and this will complete the gridlock at the other.... so just to add to traffic concerns,and commuter residents woe's.. its adjacent to a busy roundabout , an entrance to an expanded busy builders yard, and a busy restaurant and public house... Road Safety concerns ??... Appropriate ?? Necessary ?? How many more car wash establishments do we actually need around here... Whats happened to the therapy sessions and routine of washing your own car ??

Jon Armstrong

Sunday 17^th July 2016 at 11:38 am

Do you think a car wash is likely to bring more customers than the petrol station did? I would think that's highly unlikely. Unless you also used to argue that the petrol station should be closed and you're also for the closure of the pub and builders' yard, then I can't see how any addition to traffic can be a legitimate concern.

Rick Andrews

Monday 18^th July 2016 at 8:57 am

If the land belongs to Robinsons brewery, maybe a better option would be re modelling the whole site as a new pub / hotel?

Jon Williams

Monday 18^th July 2016 at 5:01 pm

What, next to a builders yard !

Monday 18^th July 2016 at 5:22 pm

To see what existing sites of Shiny Hand Car Wash look like, click on this link to Google Images- not the best welcome to Wilmslow!

http://bit.ly/2anyA1Z

Roger Bagguley

Tuesday 19^th July 2016 at 11:24 am

I own up to using hand car washes both at Handforth and in Bromley where I visit quite often. Clearly, given how busy they are, queues blocking main roads etc., they are lucrative businesses. But here in Wilmslow we are really concerned about the future of our town. Our Green Belt is planned for to accommodate over 1000 houses, including the green and pleasant field to the left as you enter Wilmslow from the south. Here some 80 houses are to be developed. Even Conservatives on Wilmslow Town Council are opposed to this whilst supporting offices on the other side of the road. The Wilmslow Neighbourhood Plan, being produced by volunteer residents for residents is all about what type of town people want Wilmslow to be well into the future. It is emerging people want a quality of life that is much less aggressive than life today. They like the green and pleasant spaces including the field opposite Royal London and do not want to be gobbled up into a heavy urban scene the moment they cross the A34 roundabout on Alderley Road. Thus, they would like something much more in keeping with their vision for the future of the town than a car wash with all the noise and traffic problems this will bring.

Barbara Hughson

Wednesday 20^th July 2016 at 11:22 am

Wouldn't this count as a brownfield site that could take a few houses, and relieve a tiny bit of pressure on the greenbelt? No. Builders aren't interested because the land remediation would eat into their profits!

John Fallows

Wednesday 20^th July 2016 at 12:12 pm

Thanks for that link Pete. Looks like it would make an extremely unattractive entrance to the town - negating the positive work done by the town council at the town's gateways. Hopefully this application can be refused.