Reading Borough Council says it has been approached by a Reading businessman who wants to turn a disused corner of the Hills Meadow Car Park in Caversham into a new hand car wash.

As part of the plans, the mystery entrepreneur has pledged to provide free public toilets as well as CCTV cameras to help keep troublemakers away.

Reading’s strategic environment, planning and transport leader, Cllr Tony Page, said: “This is a corner of the car park which is generally not used, aside from flytippers who think it acceptable to dump rubbish or recycling there.

“The proposal not only makes use of what is a largely redundant and untidy area, but also brings with it free public toilet facilities during opening hours. Regular users of the car park – including the many shoppers, BMX and skate enthusiasts and football teams who use it for parking on weekends – will tell you that such facilities are much needed. New CCTV cameras installed by the business will also help increase security, particularly at night and during dark winter months.”

The small gravelled area, located next to the recycling banks at Hills Meadow, is currently designated as an overflow area but is rarely used.

The proposal is yet to go before the council’s planning committee, but Cllr Page said: “I’d like to emphasise this is not green open space. If we can bring the area into use, and with it facilities such as free toilets available to the general public, along with increased security at the same time, it will be of benefit to all users of Hills Meadow and residents.”