THE owner of a car showroom in Witney is shutting up shop after 50 years in the High Street.

Martin Kernahan, of Kernahan’s of Witney, said the Ford dealership showroom was now too expensive to operate and would close on July 31.

The company’s body shop in Oxford Hill will also close, and the firm will continue as a servicing-only operation at its Station Lane site.

Mr Kernahan said a number of employees will be made redundant, but it is not known yet how many.

He said: “I have spent 30 years in the business personally and lots of people have spent a long time here, so there is more than a tinge of sadness for everybody.

“But it is the right commercial decision.

“The economics of modern retailing mean that high street showrooms have become very expensive to operate, which is why it is very rare to find a car dealership in the middle of town these days. We have been unable to find a suitable alternative location, despite considerable effort, so we have chosen to close our High Street premises.”

The company, which has sold the site for an undisclosed sum, has planning permission to demolish the existing building and replace it with three shops, seven houses and two flats.

Mr Kernahan said: “This plan really only started coming together three months ago.

“Over the years, a number of approaches have been made for the High Street site. It has never been right for us, but now it is.”

The work will not create a High Street entrance into the Marriotts Walk Shopping Centre, Mr Kernahan explained.

He said: “There will not be a route through to Marriotts Walk. The development has been agreed.”

The body shop site in Oxford Hill, will be sold and could be redeveloped for houses.

Mr Kernahan added: “We are retaining more than half the staff, but a number of people will be made redundant.”

The business, which used to be a Rover and MG dealership, was formed in 1958 by Mr Kernahan’s father, Owen Kernahan.