Dave Perkis.
STADDLESTONES, at Westridge, Ryde, is to cease selling petrol at the end of this month, when it closes its forecourt operation. Car sales will be unaffected.
Dave Perkis, chairman of Staddlestones Garage Ltd, said the closure had become inevitable due to a drop in fuel sales linked to competition and supermarket trends to reward store purchases with discounted petrol.
He said: ""From the time Tesco moved its forecourt from the back of the site to the front, nearer to the road, we have noticed a steady drop in fuel sales. This, coupled with recent aggressive competition in the form of discounts linked to purchases from the store, has further exacerbated the problem.
"The combination of this drop in volume, the cost of replacing ageing pumps and equipment and the planned expansion of our sales and servicing facilities at the Brading Road site has led to the directors making the decision to stop the retail sales of petrol and diesel fuels.
"The removal of the pumps and canopy will enable us to make much better use of the forecourt area for car sales, in line with the building of the proposed new showroom facility on the north side of our site," he said.
"While we are very sad to lose our forecourt staff and some very loyal customers, all of whom have been with us for a number of years, we are sure the new facilities will secure the future of the business for our staff and customers for the next 25 years."
Dave and Doreen Perkis started the business in 1987 with a garage at Ashey and moved to the current Brading Road premises in 1998.