Residents of a Shenley street are upset that Hertsmere Borough Council is allowing a garage to continue its controversial car cleaning service, despite an earlier decision that the hand car wash and valeting activities should be stopped.

The council's planning committee for Shenley decided, in March, that enforcement action should be taken against D & L Coachworks, in Pound Lane, because it had no planning permission for the car cleaning service, which the council believed had become the dominant use at the garage.

However, D & L Coachworks appealed to a Government planning inspector against the decision, and residents fear the car washing will continue until the inspector hears the appeal in October.

Council planning officer Chris Lewcock said it was legal for the garage to continue with its activities until the planning issues were looked at by the inspector, although the council was considering, and seeking legal advice on, whether to issue a notice ordering the garage to stop.

However, in order to serve a notice, the council had to be sure the garage would not be given permission by the inspector, because it could claim thousands of pounds from the council in compensation for lost business if the appeal was upheld.

Around 20 residents of King Edward Road, where the garage has an exit, and Pound Lane, have signed a petition opposing the car wash, which they say has brought traffic, noise, privacy and environment problems.

But D & L Coachworks has refuted these claims, and has disputed that car cleaning is the dominant part of the garage business.

A 47-year-old King Edward Drive resident said this week: "They are still working seven days a week. One of the neighbours is going away every weekend because he cannot handle it."

June 26, 2002 14:30