New Car Wash Making My Life A Misery

monewden

I live in a small ground floor flat in a converted school. The front of my flat looks out on to a small car park with one space allocated to myself, one to another tenant and three to a cafe (the front of the cafe faces the town high street and thus these three spaces are located at the back of the property. My flat faces the back of the cafe).

Last month the cafe decided to open a hand car washing business which involves cars parking up in two of the spaces at the back of the cafe before being cleaned by the owner's teenage son and another young man.  This involves the use of sprayers, polish and other such items. They also provide a valeting service. As a result cars are coming and going at all times. The noise of the business, which starts at 8AM, is most inconvenient. Slippery suds are pooling across the car park. The car park is not supposed to be for customers but rather for residents and staff and is now busy and noisy at all times of the day. More than once waiting cars have parked in my space and at other times have blocked me in. When I challenged the owner of the business she was dismissive and outright rude. I have called the landlord who owns the cafe property but he has refused to do anything as he said it is not his concern. I have called the council who have investigated but told me they are happy for it to continue as the only concern they would have was the environmental impact (apparently the water is being disposed of appropriately - not what I was complaining about!) The owner also claimed the business was simply a 'pocket money venture' for her son to earn a little extra for college which I presume gave the impression that he is only washing cars for his friends or relatives - this is not true, business is booming, employs staff, has it's own website and even an 0300 number registered to it! My question is are you allowed to operate a business within a communal car park of mixed retail and residential use? I'm sorry if this makes me sound like a NIMBY, I'm simply looking to get back some of the peace and quiet I used to enjoy.

Grumpy_chap

Is this use permitted under planning constraints?

monewden

Grumpy_chap said:

Is this use permitted under planning constraints?

I don't believe so. The spaces for the car park are clearly set out. One for me, one for another tenant and three for the cafe (and it says cafe) and staff - not even anything about customers. I am increasingly convinced that the only reason the council decided not to take action was because the owner claimed it was simply her son's 'pocket money business' - after all, who would object to a young lad cleaning the cars of his relatives or family friends? However it is far from a pocket money business, it gets a lot of customers and this is the problem!

lincroft1710

Report it to planning and provide evidence (dated and timed photos, the website address, 0300 phone no. etc). If no joy involve your local councillor

Pennywise

lincroft1710 said:

Report it to planning and provide evidence (dated and timed photos, the website address, 0300 phone no. etc). If no joy involve your local councillor

Yes.  Keep a diary of times/numbers of cars, and a note of every time a car is blocking/parking in your space.  Back it up with photos.  Then once you have accumulated enough "evidence", pass it onto the council to prove it's not a "pocket money" business.

hollie.weimeraner

Report it to the Environment Agency on 0800 807060.  If it's commercial they shouldn't be discharging their run off into surface water drains.

Savvy_Sue

hollie.weimeraner said:

Report it to the Environment Agency on 0800 807060.  If it's commercial they shouldn't be discharging their run off into surface water drains.

But the council said the water was being disposed of appropriately. Having said that, if there are soapsuds all over the car park, that doesn't sound great ... 

missile

I would contact your local councillor and MP. The council will take more notice of a complaint from them.