Having purchased JP Motors garage, situated in Fairmile Road in May, Lee and Michelle Clark said they believed they were building a secure future for their four children.
Now they face losing their business, livelihood, and family home due to a planning proposal to knock down their business and the surrounding area.
Site operator Motor Fuel Group (MFG) submitted a planning application to BCP Council on August 26 to demolish the workshop to make room for two 24-hour jet washes and convert the adjacent car wash into a Greggs.
The family outside JP Motors in Fairmile Road (Image: Torq Hopper)
The couple said they suffered a “massive shock” when a regular customer walked into the workshop a week later and alerted them to the public listing.
The planning application listed the established mechanics workshop as an “outbuilding”, which they said negates the fact an active 30-year business operates inside.
Michelle said: “It’s like our business doesn’t matter… it’s so wrong on every level.”
Michelle had given up her previous job to work at the garage full-time alongside Lee and mother-in-law, making JP Motors the family’s sole source of income.
She added: “Mentally trying to run a business anyway… and then not knowing if you’re going to be without anything in the possibility that we could lose our home and everything because how are you going to pay for a mortgage without an income? It’s terrible.”
The couple said workers arrived on-site unannounced to spray-paint road markings and carry metal rods around customer vehicles.
They claimed they spray-painted across Lee’s battery charger cable.
Among those who risk losing their livelihood is a technician who recently welcomed a baby, alongside a newly hired apprentice whom the couple took on to give a young person a start in life.
Moved by the family’s plight, residents have taken up the fight and regular customers have submitted objections against the redevelopment to help save the business.
“We’re meant to be supporting local, small-run businesses,” said Michelle.
“We look after most of the cars around this area… we’re a family-run business, we’re trustworthy, and we like to think we’re really good people.
“Please don’t just throw us out.”
Motor Fuel Group declined to comment when approached by the Daily Echo.