A FORMAL planning application has been submitted for a hand car wash at the former Royal Naval Club in Crawley Green Road, Luton.
Residents living nearby held a meeting last month after work to prepare the site for the business started without any permission having been granted, prompting fears the car wash would start operating without council approval.
Concrete hardstanding was laid and signs put up advertising prices for the car wash.
Neighbours were concerned about noise and dirt from the site, and said it could cause a road safety issue on the busy road. A number have already sent in objections to the planning application.
Luton Borough Council enforcement officers took action after residents complained, and the application will now either be decided by officers or a planning committee.
Residents have been helped by Crawley ward councillors David Franks and Mel Cato.
Mr Cato said: “I shall strongly oppose the granting of permission on behalf of the local residents. Should the planning application not be successful and the applicants continue to construct the car wash in an unauthorised manner I will be asking the council to take out a stop notice on the work that is rather quicker than the standard enforcement process as this a quicker mechanism.”