Cheshire East turns down application for eco-friendly car wash with electric vehicle charging in Crewe
Cheshire East has turned down an application for an eco-friendly car wash in Crewe - on the grounds it would be too noisy for neighbours.
Carbana and Monktondean Investments wanted to build the facility, which would include four jet wash bays and four valeting bays.
It also wanted to construct two self-serve electric vehicle charging bays and an amenity building with customer lounge - on land near the Cross Keys roundabout.
Cheshire East Council refused the application on Wednesday (August 3), this week.
The site, on the corner of Broad Street and North Street, was previously used as a car park for the former Robert Eardley Skoda car showroom.
Cheshire East's planning officers had recommended the application be refused.
Officer Richard Taylor told the southern planning committee on Wednesday, although the council's environmental health officer had concluded the development would not cause an unacceptable statutory noise and nuisance, planners did not agree.
James Walker, of Monktondean Investments, told the committee a professional noise report had been submitted as part of the application and 'the report was accepted by the council's environmental protection officer'.
"The planning officer has overruled this report even though it specifically addresses the noise and the plant and equipment to be used like the vacuums and the jet washes," said Mr Walker.
Cllr Joy Bratherton (Crewe East, Labour), raised concerns about the impact of the scheme on the roads.
Mr Walker said the council's highways officer had not objected.
Cllr Bratherton told the committee: "We now have a roundabout with seven points of access and I can assure you, the traffic travels very, very quickly.
"I can see a situation where cars coming in and out of this proposed site will cause more harm by the fact they're there and for the speed of the traffic.
"There is only one point on the whole of this roundabout that has a controlled crossing, and that is in the North Street area, yet we have literally hundreds of children making their way every day up the Remer Street point towards Monks Coppenhall School without any safety aspect in place.
"We are now putting in another building that could, and I would suggest will, bring more traffic to the area."
She added: "Nobody has convinced me that this will be a benefit and therefore I would like to move the refusal of this application."
Cllr Sarah Pochin (Bunbury, Independent), disagreed.
"Having visited the site, I actually can't see any reason not to allow this application to go through," she said.
"We've heard that there are no safety issues or congestion issues that would bother our highways department, so that is not a rational objection.
"We've also heard quite clearly that there are no noise issues that are accepted by the statutory consultees so, once again, that cannot be upheld at appeal."
She moved the application be approved.
Cllr Connor Naismith (Crewe West, Labour), seconded the move to refuse the scheme.
He said the area was very busy and he believed the extra vehicles would cause congestion.
The application was refused with eight councillors voted for refusal, one against and three abstaining.
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