Plans to build a car wash and valeting station on Skipton Road in Harrogate have been withdrawn.

A planning application was submitted to North Yorkshire Council in December for the facility, which would have been created on the car park of a former builder’s merchants near to Harrogate Fire Station.

Tofan Osman Abdullah, who is based in Leeds, was behind the scheme and planning documents stated that he had experience running a similar business a few years ago.

According to the application, the business would have opened from 8.30am to 6pm Monday to Saturday and from 9am to 5pm on Sundays and bank holidays.

A design and access statement attached to the application urged the council to approve the plans. It said: 

“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.”

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However, before the application could be considered, the council’s environmental health team submitted a representation that raised concerns about the potential for noise impacting nearby residential properties.

It asked the applicant to produce a report to outline how much noise the car wash might create and how this will be mitigated.

A council officer said: 

“The proposed location of the development is right next to a noise sensitive property (79 Skipton Road), and others on Bartle Avenue are in close proximity. There are no details as to the type of equipment to be used on site and the associated noise levels. 

“This department has investigated complaints associated with noise from such an activity at properties at a further distance therefore there is the potential for this development to impact the noise sensitive properties in proximity to it.”

A request to withdraw the application was accepted by the council.

Morrisons supermarket in Ripon could be getting a car valeting pod.

The supermarket hopes to offer a ‘wash whilst you shop’ service in the store’s car park.

Morrisons would remove 10 car parking spaces to create the pod, which could be a prefabricated single-storey structure.

Services offered would range from a basic wash to upholstery and seat cleaning.

Plans have been submitted to Harrogate Borough Council this week and will be decided at a later date.

Documents submitted on behalf of the supermarket said:

“Wm Morrison Supermarkets Ltd would also add that car park valet offer a service which is highly valued by Morrisons customers and firmly aligns with their plan to bring more and more popular and useful services to the communities that they serve.”

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The owner of a Harrogate car wash has said customers are questioning whether he is involved in modern slavery crimes, despite being unrelated to a recent court case.

Mehmet Ula, who owns Woodlands Hand Car Wash and Valeting on Wetherby Road, contacted the Stray Ferret to say around three to five customers a day were asking if staff were being treated correctly or abused.

It has happened since Defrim Paci, a 42-year-old married father-of-four, was one of two men convicted at Carlisle Crown Court for modern slavery crimes this month.

Paci is sole director of Harrogate Hand Carwash on Sykes Grove but the crimes were committed against workers at a Carlisle car wash. The Sykes Grove business was not implicated.

Mr Ula said:

“I’m in a difficult situation. I’ve lived in Harrogate for 18 years. We’ve got absolutely nothing to do with these people.”

“Most of the lads I employ are local and we do everything properly.”

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Mr Ula bought the business, which was previously called Bubble Run, two years ago.

He said he pays staff properly and modern slavery was an “outrageous” practice.

He added:

“People have a right to ask questions, they should, but this is affecting my business.

“We 100% disagree with what’s happened.

“I hope they get the correct punishment. This is 2021 in England, modern slavery is not what we want.”

A local resident has called for an investigation into a Harrogate car wash after a court found the owner guilty of modern slavery offences.

Harrogate Hand Carwash and Valeting’s sole director is Defrim Paci, who was found guilty this week of committing modern slavery crimes against workers at a car wash in Carlisle.

The court heard how several staff worked long hours for little pay and were denied breaks when it was busy.

Workers also reported rat and insect infestation sightings in their “very dirty” multi-occupancy accommodation after paying for transport from their native Romania.

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The Harrogate car wash on Sykes Grove was not implicated in the hearing but a resident who lives near it, and requested anonymity, called for an investigation in light of the court verdict. They said:

“I really never suspected anything like this.

“They really have to do some sort of investigation now. If Paci has done this at one of his businesses then they all need to be looked into.”

We passed on the resident’s concerns to North Yorkshire Police and asked if officers would carry out an investigation. The force did not reply.

The Stray Ferret also spoke to one of the workers at Harrogate Hand Carwash & Valeting, who wanted to remain anonymous. They said:

“I have not been working here long but I think all the workers here are fine and have no complaints.

“Friends of mine brought me here. I have not heard anything about that court case.

“I think it is a good place to work, it pays well. Paci is here sometimes and gives us food and drink.”

A Harrogate car wash owner has today been found guilty of modern slavery crimes.

Defrim Paci, a 42-year-old married father-of-four, was one of two men convicted at Carlisle Crown Court.

Mr Paci is sole director of Harrogate Hand Carwash on Sykes Grove but the crimes were committed against workers at a Carlisle car wash.

After a six-week trial, Paci, of Windmill Close, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire and Sitar Ali, of Adelaide Street, Carlisle, were unanimously convicted of conspiracy to require others to perform forced or compulsory labour at the Carlisle car wash Shiny, and conspiracy to facilitate travel with a view to exploitation.

Jurors deliberated for almost 27 hours across six days.

The court heard graphic evidence about terrible conditions in which employees at Shiny were forced to carry out daily duties.

Several told of working long hours for little pay and being denied breaks when the car wash was busy during 2016 and 2017, and not being given the freedom to take time off.

One described being left “very tired”, hungry and with just £20 in his first pay packet as he worked nine long days in a row. He was also one of several workers who complained that no protective clothing was provided, and said water had “eaten away at my feet” as it seeped through his trainers.

Skin burned

One worker recalled buying cheap gloves from Tesco to protect his hands from cleaning chemicals which, some employees complained, burned the skin on their face and body.

Workers also reported rat and insect infestation sightings in their “very dirty” Carlisle multi-occupancy accommodation, having paid for transportation from their native Romania to north Cumbria.

Travel costs and deposits were deducted from weekly pay and wage slips, where issued, understated working hours and overstated the amount of money earned.

Employees were taken to a charity safe centre on May 10, 2017, when health and safety officers called at Shiny, issuing several improvement notices as police arrested suspects.

One worker later told police:

“They treated me the same like they would do with a slave.”

Paci ‘operated at the top’

Paci was said to have “operated at the top” of the criminal enterprise, buying land and setting up a business, which was managed by Sitar Ali.

Ali was also convicted of possessing criminal property after £16,000 was found in a BMW after his arrest.

Martin Reid, prosecuting, told jurors:

“It is the prosecution case that the circumstances created by the defendants led to the freedom of these workers effectively being overridden.”

Paci and Ali will be sentenced on July 30.

Denied bail

Barristers representing the two men made pleas for bail in the meantime, so they could put “affairs in order” ahead of sentencing, which one suggested was a “significant inevitability”.

But Judge Nicholas Barker remanded both men into custody, saying.

“I fully accept that these matters have been hanging over you for many, many years now and you have been on bail for an extended period of time.

“However, the fact of your convictions changes the circumstances. In my judgement there is a flight risk that you have. Both of you have access to connections overseas.”

A third man, 37-year-old Jetmir Paci, was acquitted by jurors of two conspiracy allegations.

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