Roberts to take over Airport Car Centre site

A ROBERTS petrol station, shop, car wash and garage could be built on the old Airport Car Centre site, if plans are given the goahead. The site, which is owned by Ports of Jersey, has now been cleared of around 50vehicles after the AirportCar Centre’s 25-year lease came to an end on 31 December.Following a tendering process, a 25-year-lease for the 50,000 sq ft premises was awarded to Roberts Garages and a planning application for the development has been submitted.

Ricky Davey, managing director of Roberts Garages, said: ‘We are thrilledthat Ports of Jersey has entrusted us with this opportunity on l’Avenue dela Commune, for which we have exciting plans, and which represents a considerable investment for Roberts. As we will be celebrating our 60th year of tradingin 2018, this opportunity to develop such a key location in the Island comes at anideal time for the company.’

He added: ‘Once built, this site will be the flagship for Roberts Garages and as such will be built to the highest environmental standards. With such a strong following of loyal customers, we are continuously asked to provide similar offerings to our current sites out to the west of theIsland and I am pleased we can now meet this request.’

The new St Peter outlet will form the fourth store in the company’s portfolio alongside its existing garages at Grève d’Azette, Bel Royal and Springfield. Rumours circulating on social media appeared to suggest that Alliance with

Tesco, a Guernsey-based business with a number of stores in Jersey, may have also been looking to set up an outlet on the site. However, when asked by the JEP, a manager at Alliance with Tesco denied the rumour.

Ports of Jersey group property manager, Paul Griffin said: ‘After a thorough tender process we are pleased to have reached agreement with Roberts Garages Ltd.

This will allow us to maintain a retail fuel offering at the Airport in conjunction with developing facilities and services for the public in the west of the Island.’