Car wash plans approved for site

Plans for a hand car wash on the site of a former fire-damaged soft play centre have won support from councillors.

In 2017, more than 20 firefighters tackled a blaze at the disused Junglerama site in Concord, Washington.

Since the fire, the building has been demolished, leaving a large patch of land off shopping street Victoria Road.

Councillors were asked to consider proposals for a hand car wash on the site at a meeting on October 1.

The application, from Mr Amen Kareem, revealed the business would create a total of four full-time jobs.

Proposed opening hours included 9am-6pm, Monday to Saturday and 10am-5pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Several structures to reduce noise and disruption from equipment were also included in the plans, alongside car parking facilities and a vehicle access from Vermont to the south.

Although the plans would normally be dealt with by council officers, they were called in to Sunderland City Council’s area development control sub-committee for decision.

This followed a request from Washington North councillor, John Kelly, who noted the site had previously been allocated for housing.

The councillor also added there were enough car washes in the area.

At the planning hearing at Sunderland Civic Centre this week, council officers recommended the plans for approval – subject to conditions.

This included a ban on any amplified music on site at any time.

Despite this, concerns were raised by two councillors who later abstained from voting.