Council pulling plug on car wash

From the archive, first published Friday 13th Apr 2007.

BASILDON Council has taken tougher action on a car wash business on land owned by a leading councillor.

Just days after withdrawing a temporary measure banning the activity at the former public car park site in Crown Road, Billericay, the authority has now served a permanent stop notice to ban the operation.

An enforcement order now requires all car washing equipment to be removed after residents claimed the service had resumed. If the orders are breached prosecutions could follow.

The land is owned by Feet First, run by Tory councillor David Dadds, who is chairman of licensing.

He has leased the land for a year to Wheels and Shine, which has been running a car park with a car wash facility since January.

Mr Dadds, who contests his Billericay East ward at next month's local elections, said: "We are considering our position.

"The tenant is permitted, as far as I understand, to continue for a month, but I believe he is considering appealing.

"There are ongoing discussions and as far as I am concerned there has been no breach or material change of use.

"Many car parks provide a car wash facility.

"It is a legitimate activity."

Council spokesman Ray McKay confirmed a permanent stop notice and enforcement order were served on Mr Dadds and his leaseholder.

Colin Kidner, of Billericay Residents' Action Group, said: "Within days of the first action being withdrawn, residents noticed the car washing had resumed."

Feet First still plans to appeal against council refusals to allow four cottages to be built on the car park.