CLLR Anne Jones claimed that thousands of litres of water daily was being used from a water hydrant for a hand car wash in Newton Abbot.

She told Tuesday’s meeting of Newton Abbot Town Council Planning Committee that a tent used in the enterprise had also blown over and finished up in a fence.

‘It could easily have ended up in the road,’ said Cllr Jones who added that she believed it was on Devon County Council land.

The committee was discussing a retrospective application by Mr S Ashwell for the retention of the use of the land as a hand car wash and erection of boundary fencing at H20 Car Wash, West Golds Way.

An objection to the application, on the grounds that it is inappropriate use of the land and affecting residential amenity, is to go from the committee to Teignbridge Council.