A car wash which is operating without a planning permit from a garage in on Gerry Zammit Street in Gżira does not even have a trading licence, the director of commerce has confirmed. According to their database, there is no licence for a car wash at the indicated address, Commerce Department director Godwin Warr said, pointing out that the case has been forwarded to the police for investigation.

When contacted, the man running the garage, Alfred Camilleri, was not in the mood for explaining. When asked why he was operating a car wash without a licence all he said was “great, great,” and hung up.

Now is the perfect time to book your car for summer cleaning

Mr Warr’s statement comes after The Sunday Times of Malta established that the nondescript garage in Gżira was operating without the necessary planning permit.

Residents neighbouring the car wash, who have been complaining about the incessant noise coming from the establishment, reported the garage to the planning authority.

However, a spokesman for the authority said that when enforcement officers investigated the case, they were told the place was being used as a normal, private garage and the cars being washed inside were in the owner’s name.

However, Times of Malta went there and had a car washed for €6.50. No receipt was given but the place was clearly a commercial outfit, complete with four uniformed workers, all wearing red T-shirts and boots.

Alfred Camilleri advertising his car wash on Facebook.

Mr Camilleri is even advertising his services on Facebook. On July 31 he posted this on his Facebook wall: “Now is the perfect time to book your car for summer cleaning car washing inside and outside polishing full valets, anything you need we are more than happy to help you with great deals on offers not to be missed, kindly call on 99927345 for more information. Thank you and good day to all.”

When a journalist yesterday phoned posing as a potential customer, the owner confirmed that he offered the service. When asked for directions to his garage, he simply said he would meet the journalist near the Muscat’s Motor’s showroom in Gżira – a stone’s throw away from the car wash.

Even when the journalist pressed him, he would not give the address or precise directions, insisting on meeting near the showroom.

The Commerce Department said such an activity required a trading licence. This in turn would require a Mepa permit, which the garage does not have.

The problem according to neighbours is that the operation is very noisy. They use multiple power-wash pumps to rinse the cars and the noise is very loud and relentless between 9am and 6pm – the second one pump stops, the other one starts.