Published: Friday, 3rd July, 2009 11:31am

Sparks of interest in petrol station

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ONE of Peebles" main petrol stations may be about to re-open.

The Innerleithen Road garage, closed for business in April after owner Dolphin Retail, which runs 22 such premises throughout Britain, was forced into liquidation.

Eight workers also lost their jobs when the station closed its doors.

As a result, Peebles" only other garage, Harrison"s on Edinburgh Road, has now been considerably busier with long queues of vehicles at the pumps.

However, it"s understood that a local businessman and leading car repair specialist Kwik-Fit have both tabled bids to re-open the now derelict site.

Both parties were contacted by the Peeblesshire News but both refused to comment on whether their respective bids had been successful.

It is felt that any re-opening will happen quite quickly to take advantage of the passing summer tourist trade.

Since its closure, Tweeddale has been left with Harrison"s and Halsall"s in Broughton as the only places left in Tweeddale for people to fill up.

A spokesman for Dolphin Retail said at the time of the closure: 'The business is quite a profitable one but has become another victim of this banking crisis.

'Lloyds TSB agreed to a loan which they then pulled out of and now the company is in a position where we cannot carry on trading at this time.

'As I said the business is profitable so the chances of it being sold and then re-opening quickly are quite high.'

Peebles Community Council chairman Ian Wilson said: 'This garage"s closure was a considerable blow to the town, especially those who worked at the garage.

"I"ve seen numerous cars on occasion pull in there only to find it closed.

"Tourists must wonder what"s going on when the town has only one petrol station

'That is why I really hope that it does re-open for the sake of locals and any would-be summer visitors.'