THE end of the road has come for the North Tawton premises of Bloggs Garage ? but proprietor Bob Turland promises it will be business as usual by Monday.

After a prolonged period of uncertainty, alternative accommodation has been secured at the eleventh hour.

This week time runs out for the premises which, as a garage, has looked out at the square?s Jubilee Clock since 1933.

It closed last Friday ? a week before demolition was due to begin to make way for a much needed car park and dwellings, including warden controlled accommodation.

The bulk of the equipment is being relocated from Bloggs Garage to a warehouse. The rest has been auctioned.

?The decision was to close completely or relocate to temporary premises and try to survive, which we are doing,? said Mr Turland.

West Devon Borough Council recently refused a planning application by Mr Turland to relocate his garage to Strawberry Fields. Although sympathetic, the council felt he should wait for the outcome of the local plan inquiry which might provide a more favourable location.

?We are going to ride out the storm and await the local plan,? Mr Turland said this week.

He added that if there was not a more optimum site he would appeal against the refusal of the Strawberry Fields application.

For a number of years he said the council had been keen for the garage to move out of the town centre so the site could be used for a much needed car park.

?They had this embargo ? no further housing in North Tawton until there was a car park. I agree they need a car park because it can be mayhem out there in the square sometimes,? he said.

When a developer offered to buy the garage outright in September 2001 Mr Turland thought he was doing the right thing.

?We thought we?d find the right premises but there is nothing around. We have had a year of searching.?

Faced with no prospect of new premises the developer leased Bloggs Garage back to Mr Turland with a deadline of March 7 (tomorrow). He also offered Mr Turland land at Strawberry Fields.

The business was finally saved from closure last week by local businessman Ken Dunn, who offered temporary accommodation at his warehouse at The Barton.

?I don?t usually go to the pub, but my wife and all the family went out and had a celebratory meal because the weight just went. I had thought we were going to have to close and make everybody redundant,? said Mr Turland.

?It was a horrible time. There was a terrific amount of mental pressure.?

As the union flag flutters over Bloggs Garage for the last time this week, Mr Turland and his four staff now face a more secure future.

?We have been here for 18 years. It is the end of an era. If we had new premises that would have been exciting ? but instead we have sadness.

?I?d like to thank all the customers for their help and support because without them we would be nothing. Some have gone beyond the call of duty to help.?