A veteran car washer claims his livelihood has been hurt since the Corporation of Hamilton banned car washers on its property.

Ras Bruce, who has been cleaning cars for 15 years, said his income has been cut in half since the crackdown late last month.

“My limit was seven cars per day,” he said. “I have done more before but seven is a good number.” Now he said he was lucky to wash three cars a day.

“I have less money in my pocket,” Mr. Bruce said. “I am happy if I leave here at the end of the day with $100.”

He charges $30 to $35 per wash and $65 to get a car cleaned inside and out.

When he was washing cars at City Hall, he could make at least $210 a day working on seven cars and in an average week would take home $1,050.

Mr. Bruce, who said he enjoys being his own boss, admitted that car washers could be their own worst enemies at times - drinking alcohol, breaking bottles and going to the bathroom wherever they liked on the grounds of City Hall. He also faulted overzealous colleagues who ran after cars “looking like a dog” hoping to make some money.

“Some women up there were afraid to walk through the park because they were getting harassed,” he said.

Mr. Bruce said he even moved to the north side of the car park to disassociate himself from the washers who were giving his business a bad name.

Corporation of Hamilton Secretary Kelly Miller defended the ban.

“It had to do with the number of complaints being received,” Ms Miller said. “Car washers were asked to leave because of anti-social behaviour, public urination and a substantial increase in the amount of littering - it was becoming overwhelming.

“It's incredible how much of a difference it has made. We have had many compliments from people about how much cleaner the city looks.”

Mr. Bruce is still able to wash cars in a private car park inside the city which is not affected by the ban.

Meanwhile, the new Bull's Head Car Wash on Jacksons' Way near Bull's Head has also hurt business for independent car washers since it opened last December.

Owner Art Riviere said the new facility charges between $25 to $55 per wash and cleans about 85 cars each day. “On some days when we have a good flow, we can wash 160 cars,” Mr. Riviere said.