Another blow as drivers' go-to garage with over 200 branches suddenly shuts site for good after string of closures

The Sun

6 hours ago

A LONG-RUNNING garage in the heart of a busy city centre has shut its doors for good — marking another blow for drivers across the country.
The National Tyres and Autocare site on St Cross Road in Winchester closed permanently on June 5, after a review by owners Halfords.
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It follows a wave of closures for the firm, which runs more than 200 sites across the UK.
The garage had served locals for years, but staff have now been moved to the Halfords Autocentre at Martins Trading Park on Easton Lane — about a seven-minute drive away.
A Halfords spokesperson said: 'We can confirm that our National Tyres and Autocare garage on St Cross Road has closed following a review of our estate in the area.
'We are committed to supporting impacted colleagues and are offering alternative roles at nearby Halfords locations where possible.
'We'd like to thank our customers for their support and hope to welcome them at our Halfords Autocentre garage which is about a seven-minute drive away in Martins Trading Park on Easton Lane.
'Customers can also access Halfords Mobile Expert – our mobile service that delivers tyre fittings, battery replacements, and other essential services directly to their doorstep.'
Halfords did not reveal what will happen to the now-empty site — but it's thought developers could pounce.
A nearby Peugeot dealership was transformed into swanky new homes around a decade ago, and the land could now attract similar interest.
The closure comes just months after National Tyres shut branches in Huddersfield, Exeter and C roydon, leaving regular customers scrambling to find alternative services.
Earlier this year, drivers in Eastbourne were left stunned when their local Kwik Fit branch shut suddenly, with staff reportedly given just days' notice.
Elsewhere, a historic MOT centre in Sheffield, open since the 1970s, closed for good in April after soaring rent and repair bills made it 'impossible to keep going'.
And in January, motorists in Swansea were hit with a double whammy after both a Halfords garage and an independent tyre shop shut within weeks of each other.
And over in Sheffield, a family-run garage that had served the community since the 1970s finally gave up in April after rent hikes and equipment costs became unmanageable.
Owner Paul, 61, said: 'We did everything we could. But the bills just kept going up — and people don't come in like they used to.'
Industry analysts warn the trend may continue, especially as EVs (electric vehicles) need less servicing, cutting demand for traditional repairs.
Why are so many car dealerships closing down?
By Summer Raemason
According to Business Rescue Expert there are multiple reasons why car dealerships are folding across the UK.
The first major factor is rising online car sales which are beating in-person sales at dealerships.
With an extensive range of comparison and second-hand sites to chose from, may car buyers don't even step foot into a dealership anymore.
Secondly, the actual cost to physically run the sites has soared.
Rent, wages and energy bills have all been increasing for roughly the past five years, putting many out of pocket.
Car manufacturing across the globe was also hit by a semiconductor chip shortage in 2022 which made it difficult to produce new motors.
The high demand with limited supply created a backlog, which although has eased, is still having an impact on the industry.
A third reason for recent closures is the shift to electric cars.
They are becoming more popular, given the Government initiative to be Net Zero in 2050.
The industry is also affected when companies merge or are bought by rivals.
This may lead to some independent names falling victim to the ongoing spate of closures.
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