Exempt automated car washes from any future lockdown say CWA

The Car Wash Association (CWA) has urged BEIS to exempt Automated Car Washes (ACW) from any future legislation in the event of a return to lockdown in the new year.

CWA membership draws from fuel companies, equipment manufacturers and the UK’s 5,500-strong independent forecourt retailers, who are also members of the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA), that operate car wash businesses on their premises.

Brian Madderson, Chairman of the CWA, wrote to the Secretary of State Alok Sharma (24/11/20) to request that in the event of a further national ‘lockdown’, ACW be allowed to stay operational. Guidance did state that ACW could remain open during the second ‘lockdown’, however, this was subsequently withdrawn.

Further, previous regulations made no distinction between ACWs and Hand Car Washes (HCWs) which pose a greater threat to public health with a higher risk of Covid-19 transmission. Brian Madderson has written to Alok Sharma to "ensure that BEIS is adequately prepared for any future lockdown, which would allow Automated Car Washes (ACWs) to remain open." The move would be justified according to the CWA due to the minimal risk to health presented by ACW. "There is no need for a customer to interact directly with another person as payment can be made digitally."

A return to the tiered system currently poses no restrictions on any type of car wash.