A new car wash and valeting service could be coming to Congleton after planning officers recommended the plans for approval, but it may not be open seven days a week as hoped.

Applicant Akbar Shah has submitted the change of use application for the vacant premises off 71, Manchester Road, Congleton, to Cheshire East Council.

The site is located in a cluster of commercial premises and located between Lawson Motor Company Car Garage and Greyfriars Carpet Store.

The proposed business operation would include three valeting bays with a small portakabin style unit providing customer waiting area, and another providing staff facilities.

The application has been recommended for approval by Cheshire East Council planning officers at tomorrow's (Wednesday) Southern Planning Committee. The application will go before the committee due to the plans being called-in by an elected ward councillor.

The call-in was made for the following reasons:

- Whilst the site is a commercial operation it does not comply with many of the guidelines and policies Cheshire East use.

- The 'security fencing' is see through and does not prevent noise disturbance or air borne chemical spray to the surrounding houses.

- Residents are being asked to comment on a plan, which would have a significant impact on their residential amenities, but many of the residents that will be living in the direct line of site of the proposals have not moved in yet, and many have bought their house off plan. They would not know about this application as it would not have arisen when searches were carried out.

- This is a significant residential, not a commercial area. It is not acceptable that where other properties have been required to comply strictly with planning design policy, that this site should be excused from conforming to these policies just because it is a commercial site.

Congleton Town Council has objected to the proposals. In comments made on behalf of the town council, Cllr David Brown said access from the site onto the A34 would be 'a nightmare'.

The ward councillor also highlighted that previous applications for a car wash off Manchester Road had been refused due to 'access, noise and social harm'.

Ten residents have written letters of objection, arguing that Congleton already has too many car washes, and that the plans would make the area look 'run down and messy'.

But, four residents have submitted comments in support of the application, welcoming the fact the car wash would bring an empty site back into use and that it would create jobs.

Cheshire East's Environmental Health Service noted that there is some separation distance between the rear elevations of the nearest dwellings. The rear elevation of the nearest neighbour to the west would be approximately 72m away, and to the south would be approximately 35m.

A Cheshire East planning officer's report stated: "Whilst those properties may be sufficiently distanced to not be subjected to noise nuisance from the proposed hand held jet washers and hoovers due to the separation distance – there is potential for loss of amenity if adequate controls are not employed. There are also homes currently under construction opposite the site on the other side of the A34 Manchester Road."

The proposed working hours are Monday to Sunday (including Bank Holidays) 9am to 6pm.

However, the officer's report added: "Due to the potential impact on residential amenity, there will be a reduced amount of traffic flow at these times, which in turn will reduce the background noise level of the area.

"Noise from the operation of equipment at the site and the movement of vehicles around the site on these more sensitive days is likely to become more noticeable.

"Therefore, the Environmental Health Service have recommended the proposed hours of use should exclude Sundays and Bank Holidays. It is therefore considered to be reasonable to attach a condition which would restrict the hours of opening."

A Cheshire East planning officer's report concluded: "The proposals are considered to be acceptable in principle on a former commercial site, and in the context of surrounding commercial uses.

"It is not considered that the proposals would lead to a significant impact on the local highway network, and that safe egress and access can be achieved.

"While it is acknowledged that there would be some additional impact on residential amenity from external noise generative activities resulting from the proposals, for the reasons outlined previously, this would not be considered to be unduly detrimental."

The main entrance into the proposed car wash would be via the existing vehicle access crossing off the A34 Manchester Road.

According to the submitted plans, there would be 10 car parking and five cycle spaces available with two full-time employees and three-part time staff working at the car wash.