The operators of the car wash at Swanpool Beach car park in Falmouth have been granted temporary, 12 month approval to run the facility.

Lee Warren, of Swanpool Beach Ltd, had applied for retrospective planning consent for the car wash after the business had been trading for around a year without permission. When the application went before Falmouth Town Council's planning committee last October, all but one member supported the proposal.

Cornwall Council has now determined it under delegation and granted conditional approval. The conditions state the car wash should be discontinued before February 15, 2017 and the land restored to its original state. The reason given for this is to enable the council to retain control over the development which "may have an unacceptable detrimental impact on the amenities currently enjoyed by the users and residents of Swanpool Beach and the immediate area."

Also as a condition, the car wash facility can only be open for business between 10am and 5pm, Monday to Saturday, and 10am and 4pm on Sundays.

The application has prompted comments from people both opposing and supporting the car wash. Kieran Stivey said: "I feel it is an inappropriate use of land next to a SSI nature reserve and popular recreation beach. Falmouth has other car wash facilities that are in more appropriate locations such as petrol stations. As a regular user of Swanpool beach throughout the year our family and friends have been sprayed by the car wash whilst sitting on the beach. We use the western end of the beach so as not to swim directly in the outflow from the lake. The car wash is sited far too close to the beach and it annoys people. The car wash generates noise which I don't appreciate when I go to the beach to relax."

Hazel Evans, however, said: "I support this application because I see it as a very welcome facility for residents of Falmouth and others visiting the area. I know of several people who welcomed this car wash facility. For various reasons many people are unable to wash their own cars and do not like to use the automatic car wash at Asda. Most towns/cities now have hand car wash facilities similar to the operation at Swanpool and it is something which Falmouth lacked until it opened last year."