Plans to build a hand car wash and valet service on a previously developed site on Alderley Road will be determined by the Northern Planning Committee next week.
The applicant is seeking permission for a change of use of a former petrol filling station to build two car wash bays, with both bays consisting of a spraying area and a valeting area.
This application is a resubmission (of application 16/3309M) which was withdrawn prior to determination in September 2016 due to the need to address concerns relating to highway safety and lack of information regarding noise impact and land contamination.
Wilmslow Town Council felt the application did not address their earlier concerns and objected on the grounds of the likely impact on the highway caused by vehicles queueing to access the facility, concerns over the adequacy of the drains and treatment of waste water from the car wash, the impact on the surrounding businesses and residential properties and the visual impact on the character of this high quality residential area.
Forty five letters of objections were also received. Amongst the issues raised were: additional traffic congestion, with queuing traffic on Alderley Road; the site is too small to fit this kind of operation; the proposed design is totally out of character with the residential area; noise pollution from high pressure washers, hoses and vacuuming machines; air and light pollution; proposed screen unsightly and inadequate to prevent overspray and the drainage network will be unable can cope with the volume of excess water running off site.
The Planning Officer is recommending the application for approval at the Northern Planning Committee on Wednesday, 12th July.
The report for the meeting states "Whilst it is recognised that Alderley Road is a busy, main route, the Strategic Infrastructure Manager considers that the level and nature of traffic movements arising from the proposed reuse and operation of the site will not have a detrimental impact on highway safety or traffic conditions.
"This proposal has been assessed on its merits and it is concluded that the proposed development has an acceptable impact on the character of the area, living conditions of neighbouring properties, highway conditions and all other matters of public interest.
"It is therefore considered that proposed development of this former petrol filling station site represents a sustainable form of development within the Wilmslow urban area."
The plans can be viewed on the Cheshire East Council website by searching for reference 16/5610M.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
Really ? if physically able, get a bucket, a sponge and some soapy water and get on with it, free exercise in the open air and a clean car as a byproduct, perhaps donate the money you would have paid to charity ?
Plus you save time as it is quicker than being sat in a queue of other drivers who are also too lazy/important to wield a sponge in anger.
I do also believe there are already car washes locally.
As Jackie Pass says, witness the havoc at the carwash at the Stanley Road traffic lights.
There's a serious accident just waiting to happen.
Surely this site would be better for much needed affordable apartments for local workers / keyworkers ?
I'm all in favour of commerce and enterprise but surely not here?
'the Wilmslow experience' of over-developement leading to ever increasing traffic jams -
presumably filling a gap before yet another unattractive apartment blot on the sky-line!
If the operator thinks they can make it work. Good luck.
Perhaps the traffic would b somewhat less if people who continually pontificate about the use of cars and traffic...actually reduced their own use.
That might be a start.
uses for such a site, so close to the town centre.
If I could conjure up the funds terry. I'd put a stack bucks drive through in. I don't think the anti the development Mob would want that?
Perhaps a fast food drive through outlet? A Wild flower meadow? Expansion of
Travis? Hotel bedrooms attached to the pub?
My point being... what ever is proposed the absolutely absurd anti anything mob will make some ridiculous comments... traffic being the main one. Unless it's some pie in the sky idealolgical community cause. Most of don't understand the need to make a profilt. They think their pension funds grow on the carrs.
Leave it as a concrete fenced eyesore. Absolutely ridiculous what I read on here.
Regardless of what is builtt he issue of the impact on traffic MUST be bought into the equation at an easy stage.
If cars are allowed to queue (and they will) there's a huge risk to life and limb in whats already a clogged up stretch of road.
Far more important than gleaming washed cars surely.
If it has to be developed then please affordable homes for locals and keyworkers that are priced out of their home town ?
Also more houses is not the answer Wilmslow is slowly dying as a town and needs more infrastructure, a car wash would be a start.
Other common and often completely unfounded objections usually include parking (even when the thing proposed would attract fewer or the same cars as the thing it is to replace), housing density (even when the proposed density is similar to surrounding properties), it's not affordable housing (just as long as those affordable houses aren't anywhere near to the people objecting), something being an important community asset (despite nobody using it, including those objecting) or something being historically important (usually when it isn't particularly and has been declining without anyone much caring for years).
Many of these same people who do their best to sabotage every brownfield development or change of use application are the same people who then loudly bemoan developers turning the attention to the surrounding green fields...
I merely ask whether the additional business suggested in Wilmslow might alleviate the issues at the Waggon and Horses junction!
The car wash at the Waggon and Horses is a completely different arrangement entirely. It essentially in the middle of a major three way junction controlled by traffic lights, where this site isn't on a junction at all. This site is also of a shape that would hopefully allow for a better arrangement of cars and facilities, rather than the smaller triangular plot in Handforth.
Having used the one in Handforth I would have said it was a noticeably larger plot than the Waggon and Horses. Also the triangular plot means they very usefully have a loop around the back to allow for maybe 8-10 cars queuing, which is rather more practical than a set of parking bays where the space in front of them is where people will pull in off the road.
Then make a judgement...
NB : As for queues outside petrol stations weren't the last were during the fuel shortages in the 1970s ?
As for the other car wash station you keep referring to....assuming you all walk there and count the cars as you admire the chaos? Don't drive there do you? Surely not. No cars on the drive? for fear of congestion...intoxication and hypocritical behaviour.
This place looks like a dump. (As you all know from driving past...yes we all do it as we complain about the traffic in front) It's a car wash, Travis expansion, drive through....or bedrooms for the pub. All of which will add traffic.... i have a wonderfully productive idea for this prime piece of real estate..let it rot! When the traditionalist ..idealistic...anti development mob have passed...we and the millennials will develop it as we see fit!