A GARAGE owner is keen to dispel rumours that he is closing down and says he is in Harefield for good.
Gamdoor Dhaliwal, 52, former chairman of Hillingdon Borough Football Club, has owned DS Preston Garages for 21 years. He took over the garage in 1990 after the death of his former business partner George Preston.
However of late, ever since the business scaled back their hours, they have been dogged by rumours of their demise, which he insists are wide of the mark.
He said: "This is a village, you can't sneeze without 20 people saying that you have got the flu. Since the recession our business dropped by 20 per cent but it has started to pick up and turn a corner. What we have had to do is cut costs in-house, adjust our closing hours, instead of rising prices for our customers."
Customers are regular, and loyal to the business, with one gentleman formerly of Northwood who now lives in Scotland returning each year to do his MOT. Another comes up from Portsmouth.
Customers also include the family of astrologer Russell Grant, and Harefield councillor Henry Higgins.
"It is great having been here so long, that we see three generations of customers, whose grandsons now have cars."
Mr Dhaliwal, known as 'Dhali' added: "I like the involvement with a community, I could buy flats and collect the money each month but what would be the enjoyment?"
The garage, which has the motto 'have a cup of tea while we MOT' is offering customers £21 off the usual MOT price of £54 up until May 31 as part of their 21st birthday celebrations.
His son Gamdeep, known as Gum, is also playing a big part in the business, and is already helping run it, as his father prepares to hand it one day for good to the next generation.
Mr Dhaliwal, who presided over Hillingdon Borough's run to the FA Vase Trophy final in 2006, before leaving in 2008, is also considering offers from several local football clubs about a return to the game.
