UPPER dale businessman Ian Tallentire has temporairily stepped in to keep running Alston Road Garage, in Middleton-in-Teesdale, after the takeover fell though.
For almost nine decades, the Tallentire family have been at the helm of Alston Road Garage, offering services, sales and fuel.
But current owners, Ruth and Ian Tallentire, decided to sell up after Covid-19.
Two new directors took over the business in June and their purchase of the property was due to go through on December 1. But Mr Tallentire said the deal had not being completed. The Tallentires, with the help of some of the staff, have temporarily taken control of the forecourt once more “to maintain this community resource if possible” .
The garage is back on the market and several prospective purchasers have already viewed the business.
Mr Tallentire said: “Hopefully a long-term operator can be found. Unfortunately, these events have meant that the workshop has closed for the present.”
His family had been
operating the garage since 1933.
His grandfather had worked on the site since just after the First World War, under Ralph Gowland of Gowland’s Garage. During the First World War, it was a steam wagon depot.
It was Ford dealer from 1961, retaining the service franchise until 2022.
The Tallentires said they were sorry that the takeover has not worked out and regret the “inconvenience and job losses that have come as a result of recent events” .
