Sadness as garage to close after 107 years

A garage owner says he is sad to be shutting up his 107-year-old business, but economic pressures mean it can "no longer survive".

Anderson & Wall has sold motorbikes, scooters and MOTs in Bridgwater, Somerset, since 1918, but it will shut for the final time on 30 January.

Current owner Richard Humphrey said the business had been impacted by national economic decisions and then nearby roadworks had been "the final straw".

A spokesperson for Somerset Council said they recognised concerns had been raised about roadworks in Eastover and the scheme would be reviewed over the next four months.

Humphrey said his father began working for Mr Anderson and Mr Wall afterWorld War Two and eventually took on the business himself, before passing it on to his two sons in 1995.

It originally sold bicycles and later moved to focusing on motorcycles.

Humphrey said he had many fond memories from his time owning the business and felt privileged to have been a part of it.

"It's the old fashioned stuff that sticks in your mind really - the good old stuff," he added.

The garage owner said he was touched and overwhelmed by "lovely messages" he had received since announcing the closure on social media.

Humphrey said the economic climate - including business rates rising and the cost of living - had made things difficult, and he claimed the council had not supported businesses during roadworks on Celebration Mile.

"The Celebration Mile works cut us off. Nobody could get to us as the road was closed and the only way in was via the bus station", he said.

"Our footfall dropped from the moment they closed the road, it just became really difficult for us," he added.

Humphrey said the impact of these factors had "gone too far" and could not be reversed.

A spokesperson for Somerset Council said they recognised it was a challenging time for businesses due to a range of issues which were not specific to Bridgwater.

The council added it was committed to supporting businesses in the town and the roadworks were designed to make the Eastover area "more pedestrian and cyclist friendly".

Earlier this month, Chancellor Rachel Reeves responded to criticism of changes to business rates and said she wanted to support high streets.

"That's why we made the change to the rates. But I recognise that many paths are still struggling and we're working with them," she added.

Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.