Retention planning permission sought for Laois car wash following warning letter

Retention planning permission is being sought for a car wash in Portlaoise following a warning letter being sent by Laois County Council over the development.

The application relates to a car wash at Dunnes Filling Station on the Abbeyleix Road.

The warning letter from the Council’s Planning Enforcement Section said it had come to the attention of the Planning Authority that an “unauthorised development” works consisting of an automatic car wash system, “may have been, is being, or may be carried out”.

In response applicant Michael O'Sullivan, on behalf of MPOS Retail, is now seeking permission to “retain the automatic car wash and for relocation of water, air, and hoover units and planning permission to construct single storey building for Deposit Return facility and all associated site works.”

The planning documents state: “This application is being made in part to respond to a warning letter received from the Enforcement section of Laois County Council, referring to an automatic car wash structure erected on top of an existing car wash previously granted planning. This application is to regularise this situation.”

Retention planning permission is being sought to move the water, air and vacuum units from the rear of the site to the front southern boundary. Permission is also sought to erect a shed to house a deposit return unit at the north western corner of the site.

The warning letter sent at the end of July followed an earlier formal planning enforcement complaint lodged with County Hall by residents who called on the Planning Enforcement Section to issue an immediate Enforcement Notice before the machinery is powered on or commercially tested.

A statement from the Abbeyleix Road Residents Action Group to the Leinster Express said some of the residents along the Abbeyleix Road said they oppose what they described as “the installation of a massive, automated car wash system” at a local petrol station, claiming it could cause a “severe noise nuisance and serious ecological risks” to the River Triogue.

"We are not against local businesses thriving, but there must be strict adherence to planning laws and basic respect for the surrounding community. Replacing a simple hand-held hose with a massive, industrial, automated wash unit right beside our homes without going through the public planning process is completely unacceptable,” the residents said.