NEW plans have been lodged for a car washing and valeting business at a warehouse in Helensburgh – just months after a previous application was refused.

Miran Sharif’s application for permission to use the premises at 19 George Street was knocked back by local authority officials in July amid concerns, from residents and council officials, over traffic levels and road safety.

Mr Sharif, of Braid Square in North Woodside, Glasgow, has now re-submitted that application with provision for more off-street car waiting spaces, more detail on sightlines for vehicles leaving the site, and photographs showing traffic levels in the street in both the morning and evening.

The building, next door to Bruce's Garage, was once earmarked as an arts and entertainment venue for the town – and planning permission for that purpose was granted back in 2011.

Mr Sharif’s application said there were 20 vehicle parking spaces on the existing site and that six were proposed as part of the development.

The revised application says there are eight parking spaces on the site at present and the same eight are proposed.

In a design statement submitted along with the application, Mr Sharif’s agent, Glasgow-based architect Chris Doak, states: “The proposed car wash will have two persons employed washing cars, and therefore the number of cars washed would only be approximately 10 per hour.

“Four off-street waiting spaces for customers’ cars will be provided, in addition to the two cars that would be undergoing a wash, and one parking space for a staff car.

“Not all of the staff will be drivers, and the railway station is within five minutes’ walk for those who don’t drive.

“It is unlikely that there will be any more than a couple of cars queuing on the carriageway at any time.”

Addressing the concerns over traffic levels and road safety that led to the previous application being rejected, Mr Doak continued: “The residents of 14-22 George Street only park on the east side of the street, and any cars occasionally parked on the west side are associated with the car repair garage in the adjoining premises.

“It is worth noting that planning permission was granted in 2011, for this building, for a change of use to a community arts and media facility.

“Parking and traffic access and congestion – which must have been considerable – must have been assessed at the time, but must not have been deemed a reason for refusal of permission.”

Back in 2011 the warehouse building was identified as a potential home for local charity Helensburgh Heroes, which wanted it to become home to a cinema and arts venue and a place to celebrate those with links to Helensburgh who have gone on to make it big on the local stage.

Those plans for the building bit the dust several years ago despite securing planning approval in May 2011.

Two people lodged objections to the previous car wash application, citing concern at prospect of traffic congestion caused by vehicles parking outside the premises, while one also objected on the grounds of noise pollution and on the site’s proximity to the car wash at the Tesco Express store and filling station at the other end of George Street.

The council’s own roads department also objected, stating that “the intensification of use would represent a worsening of already poor visibility of manoeuvring vehicles and thus a worsening of road safety".

One member of the public expressed support, stating that the proposal would “create much needed local jobs and rejuvenate a derelict building” – but that wasn’t enough to overcome planners’ own concerns.

Council officials have set a deadline of Tuesday, February 20 for a decision on the new application.

The application, and associated papers, can be viewed by clicking here.