Alderley Edge Parish Council discussed the future of the Trafford Road garage at last night's meeting.
However, no mention was made of the previous suggestion that Alderley Edge Motor Co could be relocated to the Heyes Lane allotment site.
Speaking about the recently granted planning permission to replace the garage and showroom with houses, Cllr Mike Williamson said "The Parish Council views it as a disaster for residents. Trafford Road garage has 1600 clients."
He added "There is no alternative at this stage, it would be nice to have a solution in our back pocket but we don't have one. It is a regret."
Cllr Sue Joseph spoke about a letter which Russell Homes had apparently issued to the owners of the garage and showroom informing them it would be a considerable time before any building work will happen.
She told her fellow councillors, whilst it is only hearsay, she understands they have been told the work will not happen for four years.
Cllr Frank Keegan responded "It is not sold that they have got a long extension, they are still on a three month notice."
Frank added "If however it becomes clear in the next six or nine months that there is never any prospect of relocating the garage then they will exercise their right to issue three months notice.
"The village really needs to notice that if it wants to protect the garage facility then it has to come up with a different solution because it cannot live forever on that site.
"It cannot live on that site as a building because one of the reasons why it has never been worth investing in it is the fabric of the building is not very good and the rear walls are not terribly good. The garage has been suffering because they have been unable to invest money in the equipment that is badly needed for the MOT facilities because they have been on a temporary lease for so long.
"So they need to find a solution which actually meets all those issues, takes them into account and relocates them - otherwise the village will be without the facility because I understand from the petrol filling station people that from the 17th November the filling station is owned by Highams, and you can see at that point then the whole site becomes a site with an A3 planning permission - potential development. That's the major risk to the village."
Cllr Sue Joseph commented "Whilst I have every sympathy with the garages they have known they were under notice in effect for 9 years, I don't think 9 years is an unreasonable time to try and find a premises."
To which Cllr Frank Keegan responded "I think that's quite a ludicrous observation frankly.
"Nine years, in that time the garage have been looking for a site on South Street which is owned similarly and was operating on a short lease by the people, the landlord there wants to do something different on that site and the garage that was there has moved out to premises in a business park somewhere in Handforth."
"Trafford Road garage went to speak to Stephen Higham to see if that would be a solution and they could join forces there but in actual fact that didn't work out because he was interested in the customers but not in taking the men on.
"They have made attempts to try and move to the other facilities within the village but for various reasons that has not happened."
I spoke with Stephen Higham this morning regarding the Total petrol station. He confirmed that Highams are purchasing it and told me they will continue to run it as a petrol station.
Updated: 16th October 3.50pm.
Stephen Higham said "Alderley Motor company have not approached as mentioned in the article and therefore my reply is fictitious."
