Indie group up for sale

Independent forecourt group Powells Garages Ltd has put its four-strong network up for sale with a price tag of £2.9m. The freehold petrol stations Abertawe Filling Station, Wych Tree Service Station, Burrows Service Station/Fabian Way and Port Talbot Service Station in South Wales produce a combined total net sales of £11.4m and a gross profit (with other income) of £1.3m a year. The business has fuel supply agreements with Texaco and Esso, and all four sites have Spar c-stores. The sale is being handled by property firm Christie & Co.

Jet campaign success

More than 14,000 Jet customers have signed in-store pledges as a result of 72 Jet sites around the country joining forces with road safety charity Brake to launch Jet’s ’20 is Plenty’ campaign. The pledge forms gave customers the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to driving at or below 20mph in built-up areas. One site, Intake 4 in Mexborough, South Yorkshire, collected 2,617 signatures.

High-profile roadshow

ACS will be taking its message about the importance of the high street to politicians at their party conferences this autumn. The meeting series starts with the Liberal Democrat conference on September 20. The events will bring together parliamentarians and planning experts to debate the future of the high street under the government’s Localism agenda.

Cost not speed

Speed is not an important factor for 97% of motorists in considering whether they would use High Speed Rail, according to an AA/Populus poll of 16,850 AA members. Only one third said they would they would use High Speed Rail for a journey they usually make by car.