RESIDENTS of a Ceredigion village have been left fuming by the county council’s failure to halt an “illegal” car wash set up at the site of the former primary school.

The business, which runs seven days a week, began operating on the former Blaenporth primary school site in August 2015, but failed to gain planning permission.

A new planning application for the car wash and associated drainage went before the the council's development control committee on March 9 when residents said that the noise from the business, which in some cases is just 20 metres from residential properties, was "unbearable".

The meeting heard how on September 16 a Stop Notice was put in place, ordering the business to halt operations, but the owners continued working.

The council's failure to enforce the notice left residents in disbelief.

Fred Cripps said: “The noise coming from the car wash is so loud you can’t even hear the TV - it’s like having the vacuum on all the time in the house. It’s unbearable in the garden.

“We as residents feel let down by the council’s inability to stop this business which doesn’t have planning permission.”

Letting agency, Jac y Do, representing the firm a planning application had been submitted in October 2015.

"There would have been noise when the school was open with traffic and children playing in the playground,” the agent said.

Cllr Gethin James said: “Residents are incensed because the car wash was built without planning permission and that an application for a stop order was made but it was ignored.

“It is all about it being a noise nuisance. The best way to make a decision is to see for ourselves. We need more information and better clarity. We do however appreciate that the residents are very very upset.”

Cllr Dai Mason said: “I am surprised that this is the first time that something like this has come up I planning. We have pop up car washes up and down the county. They clean cars seven days a week and that is not fair for residents who will be impacted.”

Committee members agreed to carry out a site inspection.