Objections have been flooding in for plans for a hand-operated car wash on the site of a demolished charity shop in Didcot.

Bektas Seyrek has submitted the application to South Oxfordshire District Council to use the vacant site at 60-68 Broadway. 

It was previously the home of Changing Lives, which was demolished in October 2022 due to asbestos in the building and structural issues with the roof.

The new plans have been criticised by residents over fears of increased traffic. By Friday, September 20, nine public objections had been submitted. 

Didcot Town Council's planning committee discussed the scheme at a recent meeting.

They said: “Didcot Town Council's planning and development committee would like to object to this application, as it believes that the access to the site is poor, considering the traffic on Lower Broadway.

"The committee also noted the potential loss of parking spaces, which are vital to the local residents.

“The committee also noted that the proposed structure is of poor design and quality.” 

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Car wash plan (Image: South Oxfordshire District Council) An objector called M Kearsley, of Loyd Road, said: “This will make the Lower Broadway even more congested.

"Drop curbs will be needed and that will remove parking for the shops in that area. Pulling out will be difficult as parked cars will make it difficult to see.

“Then you will have cars crossing the pavement to access the site, so a risk to the public walking in that area. You can't keep cramming things into the town centre when the infrastructure isn't there to support it.

“The Lower Broadway is ridiculously busy at peak times and weekends. Didcot already has two car washes. If another is really needed put it outside the town centre where access is safer.”

Laura Adil, of Eider Way, added: “This application should be rejected, there is no need to build another car wash less than a mile away from applicant's already existing one on the same road.

“Removing public parking spaces will affect residents and existing businesses near the site.

“I strongly believe this application should be rejected, because there is no positive impact to town or its residents.”

Mr Seyrek already owns a hand-operated car wash on the south side of the Marlborough Club, the Didcot Hand Car Wash.

In a planning statement, the applicant states: “Non-mechanised car wash facilities have advantages over their mechanical counterparts as they are more ‘environmentally friendly’, the vehicles are cleaned more thoroughly, with less damage and they generate human interaction between the operatives and the clients.

“We ask planners to consider this application favourably as a very positive contribution to the town-scape and grant permission so this new activity can contribute to the revitalisation of this part of the built-up townscape.”