Car wash plan for former Wolverhampton pub car park is thrown out

The proposal for The Woodbine pub in Wood Lane, Bushbury – which attracted dozens of objections from residents – was thrown out because of potential nuisance, noise, spray and air pollution it may create.

Planners also cited the car wash's close proximity to the pub, which could struggle if it was to be converted into a residential and retail development.

Earlier this month the proposal was recommended to be granted temporarily on a rolling 12-month basis, ahead of the next planning committee meeting on January 10.

The pub was closed in 2013, and attempts to regenerate the site were unsuccessful.

Since then it has become a haven for drug dealers, fly-tippers and yobs, according to a local councillor, who called on the owners to improve security of the car park and the building.

Planning officer Colin Noakes wrote on the rejection letter: "The proposed car wash is in close proximity to the former pub building.

Conversion of the former public house into a mix of retail and residential uses conflicts with the proposed car wash use.

The car wash will by its operation generate levels of nuisance through excessive noise, spray and air pollution that are incompatible with both the proposed and nearby residential uses."

He added: "The addition of the car wash, together with the residential and retail use of the site will lead to an over intensification of the site.

"The intended use of the building to provide a number of retail units and residential accommodation will require considerable vehicle manoeuvring space and car parking to support these uses.

"Using a large portion of the car park for a hand car wash is likely to result in dangerous parking practices, poor circulation paths and queueing traffic on the highway."

Bushbury Councillor Daniel Warren believes the rejection marks a win for the community.

He said: "Everyone will be really pleased about this. It's a big victory for local residents.

"It's not in the interest of the owners to have a car wash there anyway."

In total, 35 objections were made against the plans.

Even after the proposal was temporarily accepted by the planning committee, residents vowed to fight against it.

There were no objections from Network Rail and the Highways department said that the car wash would have little impact on the road network.

The basis of objections from most residents will be on noise and nuisance.

In April this year, there were calls for the council to act on the site after litter was dumped on the car park.