PLANS have been submitted to Wiltshire Council to change Magic Hand UK car wash on Trowbridge Road in Westbury into two takeaway units.
The current site, which is used as a hand car wash centre, plans to be extended with an additional building attached, the overhead canopy to remain, and seven parking spaces.
During a meeting of the highways, planning and development committee at Westbury Town Council on Monday 19th August it was agreed to object to the plans due to highways safety, insufficient parking and close proximity to residents in Teal Close.
Cllr Jane Russ said, “It seems to me that the issue that is of most importance is the access from the parking, it isn’t rocket science, it’s going to be really difficult if you are wanting to go towards Trowbridge coming out of there when it’s busy.
“It is also right by the roundabout, it’s bit of a nonsense really and another question is whether we want yet another takeaway.”
Cllr Mike Sutton added, “I don’t think we should argue about something that is difficult to argue against. Yes, I agree that we don’t want another takeaway, but that is out of our grasp. It will be near some houses but you could argue that having a takeaway is better than the car wash blasting away until seven o’clock at night and although access is difficult, it’s no more difficult than cars coming out of the car wash every 5 minutes. You could argue that people would stay at a takeaway longer.”
Cllr Gordon King added, “I agree with cllr Russ. Kerry Flower at Wiltshire Council also sees the highways issue stating in an email, available on the online plans that, ‘The layout is not acceptable; spaces 6 and 7 would only be able to exit the site and travel south bound as the manoeuvre to exit and travel northbound would result in vehicles crossing the carriageway into the direction of on-coming traffic, or performing multiple manoeuvres.’ If that is not a significant highways safety concern, then I don’t know what is. Therefore, we should object on highways safety grounds.”
Chair of the meeting cllr Ian Cunningham said, “I agree that they are trying to push too much into the space. One takeaway would be fine, but there are too many businesses with insufficient parking. It’s a double yellow line clearway so there is no parking on the road available and the canopy doesn’t help them as it reduces the parking.
“I would also like to add my concern on late night operation. Car washes are very noisy but they often don’t run until 11 o’clock at night; they try to open until midnight, 1am.
“The secondary unit is very close to residents in Teal Close and were they likely to approve it, would they put time restrictions in operation so they are not subject to late night noise from their house?”
To view the full plans visit the Wiltshire Council planning portal and use the reference 19/06302/FUL.
