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27
Nov
Harrogate car wash submits change of use plans
The owner of a Harrogate car wash which was under investigation by the council has submitted retrospective plans for the site.
Plans to open a car wash at the former Jewson site on Skipton Road were put to North Yorkshire Council last December.
However, they were withdrawn in March this year and no additional applications were put forward.
Despite this, Skipton Road Car Wash began operating at the site last month.
The Stray Ferret soon discovered the council had launched an investigation into a possible breach of planning control. A council letter, seen by the Stray Ferret, said the car wash should cease operating until permissions were in place.
However, Skipton Road Car Wash continued to trade, as we reported here.
But a change of use application was submitted for the site last week.
The proposal gives the surnames of two applicants, Rusool and Khader, and seeks approval for the retrospective permission to open the car wash.
A planning document, which refers to just one applicant, says the site will be used as a car wash and valeting station:
We are proposing a car wash, which my client intends to open during the hours of 9am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday, and 9am to 5pm on Sundays and bank holidays.
My client intends to take over the lease on this plot of land. He has run a similar business a few years ago, however due to some issues in his family he had to give up the business.
A car at Skipton Road Car Wash on November 5.
The application says the work to convert the site into a car wash started as early as August 1 and finished on October 26.
The area was previously used to store timber and materials for Jewson, it adds.
Plans also say there will be an additional nine parking spaces, from the existing zero, and two bike spaces.
There will be two full-time and two part-time employees, but the application says the total number of full-time employees will be three.
A planning document adds:
There are strong planning grounds to support this application and to support local businesses. We believe the additional noise would not make a difference in comparison with the very close busy A59 road.
The Stray Ferret has followed the site closely and last month tried to contact several people whose phone numbers were listed in connection with the site - all of whom denied any involvement.
The council will make a decision on the plans at a later date.
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