The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) will soon be meeting with the operators of city wash bays in efforts to address the economic, environmental and public health concerns brought about by their operations.
This was announced on Thursday by the M&CC and came just two days after a letter was published in the Stabroek News detailing how one elderly Queenstown resident was affected daily by a car wash situated across the street from her Crown Street residence. The car wash was said to be the official wash bay for army vehicles.
“This letter is being penned in frustration. I am an octogenarian, resident from birth at 138 Crown Street, Queenstown, Georgetown. I worked for many years and am now retired and at home, and was looking forward to enjoying my end of life years. But alas! That is not to be. I can no longer sit in my rocking chair at my front window, answer my telephone or listen to my television in my sitting room. All has been taken away by a car wash,” the letter by G D Cholmondeley began.
This was announced on Thursday by the M&CC and came just two days after a letter was published in the Stabroek News detailing how one elderly Queenstown resident was affected daily by a car wash situated across the street from her Crown Street residence. The car wash was said to be the official wash bay for army vehicles.
“This letter is being penned in frustration. I am an octogenarian, resident from birth at 138 Crown Street, Queenstown, Georgetown. I worked for many years and am now retired and at home, and was looking forward to enjoying my end of life years. But alas! That is not to be. I can no longer sit in my rocking chair at my front window, answer my telephone or listen to my television in my sitting room. All has been taken away by a car wash,” the letter by G D Cholmondeley began.
The letter was reportedly penned following an altercation around Christmas between the writer, 83-year-old Cholmondeley and the owner of the car wash, after she asked him to remove from the front of her residence.
The wash bay owner related on Thursday evening that since the incident he has asked customers to desist from occupying the space under the mango tree located in front of Cholmondeley’s home, as he wants to maintain peace and avoid any further confrontation.
Among the complaints listed by the octogenarian in the letter were issues of the entryway to her compound being blocked, noise pollution when the machines at the wash bay are activated; being affected by flying dust, water and debris; and having persons occupy the area in front of her home, chatting loudly and at times using obscene language.
She explained last night that when the business first started out, it was on a relatively small scale, but since then, it has grown to a commercial size.
The wash bay has been in existence for approximately four years now.
The owner of the enterprise, who wished not to be named, explained that he operates from 8 am to 5pm the latest, which he believes is reasonable, and noted that his neighbour, Cholmondeley, was the only one who seemed to find issue with his operations.
He further stated that other neighbours have given him permission to use sections of their parapets and bridges.
“Neighbour, close, wah supposed to be rowing, that living close-by, no problem, only this lady,” he commented.
“You see dem big bricks wah put deh? She had some bigger one till out there, that’s before I even had the workshop. Council move them twice. She don’t want nobody park there on the pave, taxpayer’s pave,” the man stated.
The M&CC, in a press release on Thursday, stated that a programme has commenced to “reclaim city spaces and other thoroughfares that are being utilized without requisite permission of the Council,” as Council makes clear that all City spaces are collectively owned.”
It was also noted that there has been significant growth in wash bays in several city wards, and that these businesses place additional financial burdens on the Council to unblock drainage areas that had already been cleaned and repair parapets and verges, eroded by the activities of these businesses.
The letter was reportedly penned following an altercation around Christmas between the writer, 83-year-old Cholmondeley and the owner of the car wash, after she asked him to remove from the front of her residence.
The wash bay owner related on Thursday evening that since the incident he has asked customers to desist from occupying the space under the mango tree located in front of Cholmondeley’s home, as he wants to maintain peace and avoid any further confrontation.
Among the complaints listed by the octogenarian in the letter were issues of the entryway to her compound being blocked, noise pollution when the machines at the wash bay are activated; being affected by flying dust, water and debris; and having persons occupy the area in front of her home, chatting loudly and at times using obscene language.
She explained last night that when the business first started out, it was on a relatively small scale, but since then, it has grown to a commercial size.
The wash bay has been in existence for approximately four years now.
The owner of the enterprise, who wished not to be named, explained that he operates from 8 am to 5pm the latest, which he believes is reasonable, and noted that his neighbour, Cholmondeley, was the only one who seemed to find issue with his operations.
He further stated that other neighbours have given him permission to use sections of their parapets and bridges.
“Neighbour, close, wah supposed to be rowing, that living close-by, no problem, only this lady,” he commented.
“You see dem big bricks wah put deh? She had some bigger one till out there, that’s before I even had the workshop. Council move them twice. She don’t want nobody park there on the pave, taxpayer’s pave,” the man stated.
The M&CC, in a press release on Thursday, stated that a programme has commenced to “reclaim city spaces and other thoroughfares that are being utilized without requisite permission of the Council,” as Council makes clear that all City spaces are collectively owned.”
It was also noted that there has been significant growth in wash bays in several city wards, and that these businesses place additional financial burdens on the Council to unblock drainage areas that had already been cleaned and repair parapets and verges, eroded by the activities of these businesses.
