Elmbridge Borough Council to decide car wash plans

The 748sqm site lies at the intersection of Portsmouth Road and Station Road in Esher.

The proposed changes would see the site’s back courtyard parking area being used for a car wash, including two awnings covering a washing bay and a drying bay, as well as six parking bays.

The old Café Rouge building would not be changed, but a new business would operate out of its previous courtyard.

Planning documents do not detail how long temporary planning permission is being sought for, but the applicant is seeking an 18-month lease to use the courtyard for the car wash.

The applicant has already set up the equipment, according to council documents, so it can be in operation immediately if granted planning permission.

“There will be no loud machinery as the washing facility will be operated entirely by handheld hoses,” planning documents read.

The applicant suggested operating hours of 8am-7pm Monday-Saturday, and 9am to 4pm on Sundays.

Supporting the scheme, a few residents told the council they hoped the new business operation would “deter further vandalism and graffiti”.

Others commented the site is a useful location, away from the townscape but people can still leave their cars to be washed before walking to the station.

The applicant already operates a car wash business in Thames Ditton and claims the new enterprise is in a “useful” location and will also provide local employment.

But some residents are worried the proposed one-way car wash will exacerbate traffic and congestion on an already busy road towards Esher’s high street and station.

“This is not an appropriate business to sit at the ‘gateway to Esher’,” said one woman objecting to the scheme. S

he argued the site is too small and any movement will be “tight”.

Another objector wrote to the council and said: “There is a lot of pedestrian traffic on Station Road, and this corner could become quite dangerous with the constant traffic.”

Residents highlighted the old Café Rouge building is of “historical significance” and lamented it has “fallen into a state of disrepair and is becoming an eyesore”.

Instead, people have suggested the council use the land for a supermarket, or much needed residential housing.

Many people criticised the addition of another car wash enterprise, claiming there are several others in the area.

Concerns were also raised that the car wash industry has frequently faced scrutiny over labour conditions and potential exploitation of workers.

Although the applicant highlighted there are no residential properties in the area, workers in the neighbouring office block, Churston House, have raised concerns that the seven-day car wash will “disturb the office environment”.

Councillors will decide on the application, which has been recommended for approval, on January 13 at an East Area Planning Subcommittee meeting at Elmbridge Borough Council.