A car wash business in East Lothian has lost its appeal to use high-pressure power jets after being blocked by the local authority.
Crystal Clean Car Wash, based in Tranent, had been pushing to have the restriction overturned, arguing the ban was hitting its ability to operate properly. The appeal has now been rejected, leaving the business unable to use the powerful washing equipment it relies on.
Power jet washers are a staple of any serious car cleaning operation, blasting dirt, grime and road salt from vehicles quickly and efficiently. Without them, hand car wash businesses are left at a significant disadvantage compared to automated rivals, and the process becomes far more labour intensive.
The reasons behind the original ban were not unusual for planning or environmental grounds in built-up areas. High-pressure washers generate significant wastewater runoff, and there are often concerns about where that water ends up. In residential or mixed-use areas, councils frequently raise issues around drainage, noise, and the impact on surrounding properties and infrastructure.
Crystal Clean had clearly felt the ban was disproportionate or wrongly applied, prompting the formal appeal process. However, the decision has now gone against them, and the restriction stands.
For small independent car wash businesses, rulings like this can be genuinely damaging. The hand car wash sector in Scotland already operates on tight margins, and any limitation on equipment or working practices can have a direct knock-on effect on how many vehicles staff can clean in a day and how competitive the business can be on price.
Tranent is a small town in East Lothian, sitting just east of Musselburgh and not far from the outskirts of Edinburgh. It has seen steady commercial development over the years, and businesses in the area often find themselves navigating planning rules that were not necessarily designed with their specific trade in mind.
The outcome of the appeal leaves Crystal Clean Car Wash facing a choice about how to move forward, whether that means adapting its methods, pursuing further legal options, or accepting the restriction as a long-term condition of operating at that site.