March Town Council surprise over car wash decision made by officers

March Town Councillors have questioned the actions of Fenland planning officers after they granted permission for a car wash and coffee shop drive-thru under delegated powers.

In her address to the monthly town council meeting as a district councillor, Jan French said approval had been granted this week for the drive-thru coffee shop and car wash proposed on land at the rear of Cobblestones off Wisbech Road.

She said she did not understand why the application had been approved without going to Fenland’s planning committee especially when the town council had raised grave concerns over flooding in the area.

Cllr French said normally such a major application, with an objection from the town or parish council which is in direct opposition to the officer’s recommendation, would automatically go to the planning committee for a decision.

She said it was acceptable for officers to decide on one or two houses in that instance but not for something like the plans by London-based One Wisbech Road March Ltd for the site off Gipsy Lane for the drive-thru and car wash.

“I was very surprised to see this had been approved in this way,” she said, adding that she understood another plan for 88 homes on a site off Wimblington Road had also been approved in such a way when again there had been objections over flooding issues from the town council.

“Why they are ignoring the usual way of dealing with applications like this I don’t know,” said Cllr French, adding: “I just feel sorry for the people who live in the bungalows near the cash wash site.”