Plans for car wash and workshop rejected due to green belt concerns
A Staffordshire vehicle showroom's bid to add a car wash and service workshop has been rejected after concerns about the effect on the green belt.
Dan's Motorcycle Showroom, on the Fillbrooks, in Stone, has been operating on the site of a former petrol station for more than a decade.
The site is also located within the North Staffordshire green belt, next to Trent Wood.
But the current workshop has been deemed inadequate when it comes to carrying out servicing and repairs to support the car sales business, because there is no room for hydraulic ramps. It means the team mechanic has had to service vehicles lying on his back, using a mechanic's creeper.
An application was submitted to Stafford Borough Council to build a new block work and timber service workshop, as well as a hand car wash facility to enable valeting services to also take place on the site.
The plans were recommended for refusal by the authority's planning officers because it was deemed inappropriate development in the green belt.
But ward Councillor Jill Hood, who supported the plans, said it had been "carefully designed to be in keeping with the surrounding area of the business and is sympathetic to its setting".
Speaking at Wednesday’s planning committee meeting, she added: “In 2004 the redevelopment of the site was quite significant. In 2005 an extension was added with kitchen and toilets and permission to serve food was given in 2006.
“Many customers come from far and wide – Dan’s is a proper destination. The opening hours are quite acceptable and vehicles won’t have to be taken away for washing and valeting.
“It has been previously developed over the years without damage to the green belt. It is my strong opinion there will be no damage.”
Committee member Councillor Ann Edgeller also called for the application to be allowed, but fellow committee members raised concerns that if planning permission was granted it could lead to further development of the green belt. Seven members voted to refuse consent, with three against the recommendation.
Councillor Tony Pearce said: “I think the problem is it’s in a green belt area. The problem with that is the creep factor.
"If you allow something to expand, before long we get a request to expand a bit more. We have a duty to protect the green belt.”
Councillor Andrew Harp added: “We are going further and further into the green belt and I totally disagree with it.”
