AN ESTABLISHED chiropractic surgery run by a former rock star has won permission to build a car park outside its premises.

Dr Terry Chimes, who was a drummer and founder member of iconic punk band The Clash, has run Chimes Chiropractic in Chigwell Road, South Woodford since 1994.

Last night (July 28), members of Redbridge Council's Regional Planning Committee West granted retrospective planning permission for the demolition of a conservatory and turning a back garden into a car park, all of which had already been carried out.

Dr Chimes, 53, who lives in Loughton, said: “We're really pleased that we got permission because it'll really help people using the practise.

“If they can park off the street then they don't have to worry about driving around to park, and also other people in the area will have more spaces to park on the street.

“Something like this is crucial, because we have people who come here with serious back complaints and they can't walk long distances from their cars to our practice.

“Now, people can drive down, park up, come in for treatment, and then get back into their cars with no problems, not having to worry.

“As for the planning permission, we'd been talking to various council departments about this so we didn't just jump in and do it, but we weren't sure about what permission we actually needed.”

Mr Chimes was one of the first members of The Clash when it formed in 1976 alongside vocalist, the late Joe Strummer, guitarist Mick Jones, and bassist Paul Simonon.

He played with the band on and off for the next decade and a half and also drummed for some other huge names in 1980s rock, such as Billy Idol and Black Sabbath, before deciding to return to his love of medicine.

Dr Chimes added: “I originally wanted to go to medical school and I took exams to get in when I was 17, but something didn't seem right at the time.

“So I decided to join a band for a year, but that year became 14 years.

“After all those years I'd decided that I'd sort of done that life, and by that time I'd become very health-conscious, I was a non-smoking, non-drinking, non-drug taking vegetarian, so it had become a big part of my life.

“I believe that a lot of doctors now are quick to prescribe drugs or surgery as a first option. That can work for some people but there are other non-invasive options that can work just as well or, in some cases, even better for a lot less money.”