Legal action will be taken against the owner of a popular car wash firm if he continues to trade this weekend.

Basildon Council says it will begin proceedings if Mark Kinsman refuses to comply with an order to clear his Wickford site.

But Mr Kinsman, who runs On Shine car wash, at Kels Kitchen off the A132, now has the backing of Billericay and Wickford MP Teresa Gorman .

She has fired off a letter to the council urging it to reconsider.

We reported ten days ago how Mr Kinsman, 26, had been told to remove his business from the site after six years because he did not have planning permission.

But his firm, which has ten employees and 5,000 customers, was today still on the land.

A council spokeswoman said: "Mr Kinsman was monitored last weekend and continued to trade after the compliance period. He will be monitored again this weekend and if he is found to be operating we will seek to take legal action."

Mr Kinsman has criticised the council for waiting four years before beginning enforcement action against him and is pleading for more time to relocate.

He said: "I'm trying to gain some time so I can relocate and salvage what I can. I would like some help from the council in doing that. I'm very pleased Mrs Gorman is backing my case. It's very good news."

He is appealing for anyone who can provide information about the use of the site before he moved in to contact him.

If he can prove it has been used by car wash firms for ten years he will be allowed to stay on the land. In the meantime he has set up a mobile business, visiting customers at their homes and work.

A spokeswoman for Mrs Gorman said the MP has sent a letter to council chief executive John Robb. She added: "It points out the inconsistencies in planning regulations. There are travellers in Bowers Gifford and Crays Hill flouting regulations."

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