Investment drives garage forward

AN Oldham garage owner has invested £250,000 to move into new premises.

Alec Nanyn, who has been in business at Moorside Garage, Ripponden Road, for 25 years, has built a state-of-the-art MoT testing station directly facing the garage he established as a tyre bay in 1984.

Mr Nanyn (55), from Waterhead, has created a near-acre plot by purchasing land from Oldham Council used to house derelict garages and a former waterman’s house owned by United Utilities.

This is adjacent to the former water board pumping station, which used to be home to Dennison’s engine reconditioning business, which Mr Nanyn has owned for a number of years.

An extension to the pumping station is now complete and the new garage is open for business.

Mr Nanyn said: “This was a huge investment for me, but I honestly believe there will an increase in business.”

Previously a manager for a national tyre supply business, Mr Nanyn started out selling tyres in the Ripponden Road premises which were shared at that time with Derek South Motors.

When Mr South retired in 1990, he took over the MoT station and repairs business which has been a full service garage ever since.

An investment of £65,000 alone in the MoT station means Moorside Garage personnel can test everything — car and commercial — up to Class Seven, after which vehicles must go to the VOSA Station in Chadderton.