Car-wash owner fails in bid to retain permission

A CAR-wash owner with a premises in the Old Bawn Shopping Centre in Tallaght has been unsuccessful in his latest attempt to secure retention permission for the facility.

Kevin Hegarty’s latest application for retention permission was refused permission by South Dublin County Council on December 6.

The local authority stated that the facility “would endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard due to the applicant not adequately demonstrating that safe vehicular movements can be carried out.”

In his application, Mr Hegarty said the car-wash is staffed by two attendants and cars are washed by hand on a “quick turn-around” basis, meaning cars aren’t left parked or unattended.

He also stated that there is no queuing at the entrance to the car wash, “thus having no impact on car-park circulation”.

The council added in its decision this month that Mr Hegarty had not addressed the issue that led to the refusal of his previous application for retention permission, which was refused last June.

In that instance, the council also gave the same reason for the refusal, citing endangerment of public safety and a potential traffic hazard.

Permission for the car-wash facility was previously granted back in 2010 for a period of six years, and again in February 2019 for three years.