THE owner of one of Penarth’s oldest garages has angrily dismissed rumours that the company is due to close.

Rumours have spread around the town that Pearsons Garage on Salop Street was due to close and be converted into flats after more than 60 years of trading.

Clive Pearson, who has run the garage for nearly 30 years, contacted the Penarth Times to set the record straight after the story appeared on a rival website.

Mr Pearson said he had submitted outline planning permission for the building to be converted into flats, but added that he had no intentions of closing the family-run garage and the plans were for the distant future.

His application is for outline planning permission for the demolition of the existing garage and construction of nine, one bedroom flats and one, two bedroom bungalow, with parking.

“I have a four and half year old daughter and it’s for her future,” said Mr Pearson.

“If there’s outline planning permission on the site then if anything happens to me then she can decide what to do with the garage, whether it continues as a business or whether it’s more profitable to sell it as a development.”

He said that since the rumours circulated the business had been badly affected.

“I have had customers calling us asking if we are closing, I had a guy calling us asking when we are selling our equipment and parts dealers asking whether we will be able to pay our bills before we closed,” he said.

“It’s damaging for our business.

“Everyone perceived it as we are closing down.”

In a letter to the Penarth Times he added: “I categorically state that the application for outline planning permission is for the distant future and that Pearsons Garage will remain trading as normal."