Local News · Swindon
Haydon Wick garage secures retrospective planning permission for car wash
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
A long-standing car wash on Thames Avenue has been granted official planning permission despite local concerns regarding noise and traffic.
A car wash and MOT centre in Haydon Wick has been granted planning permission to continue operating, following a decision by the Swindon Borough Council Planning Committee on Tuesday, October 13. The Cross Street Garage, situated on Thames Avenue, had been operating its car wash facility without formal planning consent since July 2024.
The site, which has a long history of automotive use including vehicle sales and servicing dating back to at least 2009, was formerly a petrol station until 1997. The recent planning application aimed to regularise the site's ongoing activities and ensure the retention of existing car wash canopies.
The application faced opposition from local residents and Councillor Stanka Wilson, who highlighted concerns regarding the potential for increased traffic, noise pollution, and the impact of a commercial enterprise on the character of the nearby residential street. Councillor Wilson also noted that the history of unauthorised use added to the unease surrounding the proposal. Despite these objections, the council's planning report concluded that the established business operations had not caused recorded highway safety issues and that the site provided adequate space to manage associated traffic.
Technical reviews further supported the decision. A drainage strategy, which was requested when the application was initially deferred in April, has been approved by the council's drainage officer. The approval is subject to specific conditions, most notably that the car wash area must drain to the foul sewer and its usage is restricted strictly to the covered areas beneath the approved canopies.
Environmental Health officials also confirmed they have not received any complaints during the period the car wash has been in operation. To mitigate potential disturbance to the surrounding residential neighbourhood, the council has imposed strict operating hours. The business is now permitted to operate only between 8.30am and 6pm from Monday to Saturday, and between 10am and 4pm on Sundays.
While an enforcement case regarding the unauthorised use was previously active, the granting of this planning permission effectively resolves the matter, allowing the business to continue its services within the newly defined regulatory framework.
Source: Swindon Advertiser - Lifestyle · View original