End of an era as family-run motor group bids farewell to Brighouse after 95 years

Dews Motor Group based on Bradford Road closed its showroom and garages for the final time after the decision was made to relocate to Halifax.

Owners of the business said due to a business review they decided to relocate the existing Mitsubishi, Alfa and Vauxhall facilities based at Bradford Road, Brighouse.

The group, which runs five franchise operations across Calderdale, has occupied the Bradford Road site since 1920 but said that the location is no longer sustainable for volume motor dealing.

Managing Director Craig Hamer said: “The cost to redevelop would have been greater than relocation and we had already agreed new lease terms on our site at Haley Hill in Halifax which has capacity to consolidate our operations.

“The trend for clustering car dealerships to provide a central destination for customers further supports this and strategically we had to look at our location in order to maintain franchise status.”

The company also said they would like to apologise for those customers who will now have to travel a little further to receive the same Dews family experience, but they hope that they can continue to offer the same quality service that the business has for the last 105 years.

“Alongside the same benefits currently enjoyed from Dews, an added benefit is that our Halifax Service Centre has extended opening hours, to access their services from 8am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 12.00pm Saturdays.”

Dews is one of the oldest names in motor retailing having being founded in 1910 by Ernest Dews.

At the time of inception there were only 13 cars registered in the Calderdale and Kirklees area.

Proposals were submitted for the development of four shopping units on the site in Brighouse in December 2014 that will see the current buildings demolished.

The plans have been put forward by Leeds planning agents Colliers International on behalf of Gregory Property Group, who built the Broad Street Plaza complex in Halifax.