Friday 29 March 2024
 5.9°C   SSE Gentle Breeze
Ocean Kinetics - The Engineering Experts

Letters / Lochside Motors

Many businesses are closing every day up and down the country, as austerity grips the nation.

The banking fiasco has still not finished, the UK credit rating has dropped and poor Ozzy (aka Geordie Osborne) does not know quite what to do next.

To make matters worse the pound has dropped in value triggering pump prices to rise.

Locally, however, businesses seem to be doing quite well and the jobs market seems to be fairly reasonable.

Regrettably, a renowned local car dealership has closed after many years of trading.

The dealership has been a tremendous asset offering a real ‘no frills’ experience when purchasing or selling your vehicle.

Furthermore, no particular manufacturer was favoured and they were also prepared to dabble in other types of transport, including motorbikes, pick-ups, etc.

Additionally, they even went further and ventured from time to time into caravans, trailers and jet skis (generally seasonal).

In fact you could say that this business model just could not fail and may actually have been copied in part by others, offering the ‘no frills’ selling experience. Some of these businesses are now global.

The failure of LOCHSIDE MOTORS is a real reminder that even the most successful businesses can fail in an exceedingly dramatic way, i.e. trading on a Friday – closed by Monday.

Finally, from what I can understand it appears that this forecourt will remain empty with no hope of a similar enterprise at this location for now.

The area appears so barren now when you drive past without the colourful mix of the motor industry’s greater and lesser achievements on display.

If anyone has thoughts regarding the sad loss of this valuable community asset and how it could re-emerge under a new guise I feel sure many would like to hear.

Perhaps Tesco could be community spirited and set aside a dozen or so spaces in their car park.

Sam A Squatch
Alberta
Canada

Become a supporter of Shetland News

Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.

Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.

Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has  over 600 supporters  who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.

Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -

  • Bring you the headlines as they happen;
  • Stay editorially independent;
  • Give a voice to the community;
  • Grow site traffic further;
  • Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.

If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.

Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.

 
Categories

Newsletters

Subscribe to a selection of different newsletters from Shetland News, varying from breaking news delivered on the minute, to a weekly round-up of the opinion posts. All delivered straight to your inbox.

Daily Briefing Newsletter Weekly Highlights Newsletter Opinion Newsletter Life in Shetland Newsletter

JavaScript Required

We're sorry, but Shetland News isn't fully functional without JavaScript enabled.
Head over to the help page for instructions on how to enable JavaScript on your browser.

Your Privacy

We use cookies on our site to improve your experience.
By using our service, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

Browser is out-of-date

Shetland News isn't fully functional with this version of .
Head over to the help page for instructions on updating your browser for more security, improved speed and the best overall experience on this site.

Interested in Notifications?

Get notifications from Shetland News for important and breaking news.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

Become a supporter of Shetland News

We're committed to ensuring everyone has equitable access to impartial, open and quality local journalism that benefits all residents.

By supporting Shetland News, you play a vital role in ensuring we remain a pivotal resource in supporting the community.

Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.