CALLINGTON'S only remaining petrol station has closed after 74 years because of soaring fuel prices and competition from the supermarkets. Business partners at Pengelly Garage Paul Eglin and Vic Crawford decided to shut up shop when the pumps ran out of fuel last week — but the workshop will remain open. Mr Eglin said it was a hard decision to make and a very sad occasion, especially as they had to make five staff redundant. But over the last two years they had lost £30,000 trying to keep the forecourt open. 'Over the last six months, what with the increase in fuel, more and more people are buying their fuel at supermarkets because it is now three or four pence a litre cheaper,' he said. 'When the difference was about two pence it did not matter but shoppers are also being offered the extra incentive of more money off their petrol if they spend £50 in the supermarket. 'What with all the hype about increases in food prices, commodities and heating bills, people are looking to save a couple of pounds here or there and I do not blame them.' Mr Eglin said falling petrol sales also had a knock-on effect in the shop: 'At the end of the day when sales and profits drops you have to draw a line in the sand and say enough is enough. We cannot sustain the business if it is not making a profit.' 'We make 4% profit on fuel and 3% on credit card sales. If someone buys £20 worth of petrol on a credit card that's 60p and you cannot pay forecourt staff on that.' The business partner added that the workshop would remain open and he hoped it would continue to be of benefit to the community. Mr Eglin and Mr Crawford took over the business four years ago. Before that it had been a family business for 70 years, run by the Lower and Palmer families, and was once one of six petrol stations in the town.
