TESCO in Chard is looking to take on the town’s two independent hand carwashes with a valeting service of its own.

Waves Consultancy Ltd, in conjunction with Tesco, is looking to introduce a carwash in the car park of the Tapstone Road store and a planning application has been submitted.

It will operate across nine parking spaces, and as up to six cars can be valeted at any one time it will result in a net loss of four parking spaces.

The proposal involves the building of a canopy and siting of an office in the car park to give “increased consumer choice”.

A statement from the online planning documents outlines: “Waves believes the introduction of the carwash will create new and sustainable economic growth in the area.

“It will have a positive impact on local employment, creating an estimated four full-time and four part-time jobs.

“We do not believe there will be a material increase in noise and disturbance from the site, and the carwash operation will be environmentally friendly.

“A water recycling unit will be provided within the office, recycling oil-free wash water and saving up to 85% of fresh water.

“It is likely that the facility will be used in association with any trip to the supermarket rather than resulting in a purpose-built trip, therefore we believe there will be no significant increase in traffic or car park usage.”

A decision from South Somerset District Council is expected by April 14.