The service station on the A272 Easebourne Lane is due to close in 12 days' time for the start of major redevelopment work which includes total demolition of the current buildings and construction of a 2,000sq ft convenience store, with a new forecourt and petrol pumps.

It is a joint venture by owners of the petrol station Rusdene Services Ltd and F W Kerridge of Alton.

Rusdene Services director Oliver Lodge told the Observer: "We are pretty keen to have the best deal in town and we are investing well over £1m in this redevelopment."

He said the companies had owned Gilhams for nine years and it was
currently in a state of 'disrepair'.

He had worked closely with planners at Chichester District Council to produce plans which were in keeping with the area.

Mr Lodge said the company had bought a strip of land from the Cowdray Estate, at the back of the petrol station, which was about 13 metres long, to accommodate the ambitious plans.

"All the existing buildings will be knocked down and we are putting up a brand-new forecourt, new pumps, a 2,000sq ft shop and a cafe in their place," said Mr Lodge.

The cafe will sell hot drinks and food. In addition, Mr Lodge said the shop would sell a full range of groceries including fruit and vegetables, meat, milk, bread, ready meals and a wide range of other household goods.

There is also to be an off-licence in the store.

He hoped the new development would be open for business on November 24.
Rusdene Services was formed 20 years ago by Oliver Lodge's father Derek and another former Esso executive, Jerry Pearson, who has since retired.
Shrewd businessman Mr Lodge senior has always been keen to 'spread the risk' at his forecourt businesses by selling more than just fuel.

He is on record as saying it was important not to be 'vulnerable to the vagaries of the market' which was why Rusdene had three well-established profit centres, with fuel being around a third of the business.

Car valeting was another 15 per cent and shops were more than 50 per cent.

"It is important to spread the risk," he has been quoted as saying. "We have three very well-established profit centres – fuel, car washing and shops. And we have seven businesses all doing that to one degree or another.

"What if you had a business that depended on car washing and
someone opened a car washing business nearby? What if a Tesco Express opened next door and that was your only business – then you might as well shut up shop."

At Easebourne Village Stores a quarter of a mile away, owners Alex Christou and his wife Sharon recently completed a comprehensive refurbishment after Easebourne lost its fight to keep its post office.

This week Mr Christou declined to comment on the Gilhams Service Station plans.


What do you think? Click here to send a letter or leave a comment below.

Click here to go back to Chichester news
Click here to go back to Bognor Regis news
Click here to go back to Midhurst and Petworth news

To tell us where in the world you are reading this story click on the link below to add yourself to our readers' map.

MAP