A GARAGE owner is “overjoyed” as his family business was given a lifeline for a new home by Wiltshire Council.

Ricky and Claire Sumner were appealing the council’s decision to refuse their Ludgershall business, RVS Garage Services, moving on to Castledown Business Park as their current landlord plans to sell their plot leaving them without a premises.

After a meeting with officials on Friday, the council has now agreed to review the lease conditions for the couple, whose business could have been forced to close.

RVS Garage Services will now negotiate a resolution for getting the keys to the unit 6b at the park.

Mr Sumner said: “I’m overjoyed at the fact we have moved past that first stage now. But we haven’t got the keys yet there’s still a long way to go.

“It is just a big thank you to everyone on social media, the town council, Claire Perry, all the support we had is just humbling.

“I can’t believe a little village garage owner like myself can have the support I have had from the local people.

“We are very, very happy the council have decided to assess our case, and that they don’t want a good business to go out of business.”

A Wiltshire Council spokesperson said: “We appreciate Mr Sumner finds himself in a difficult position. The Castledown Business Park is appropriate for a wide range of employment uses, but in keeping with planning requirements, not those that generate a significant amount of traffic, parked vehicles and potential disruption or disturbance to neighbouring occupiers. We have previously declined requests from other businesses wanting to use the site for similar reasons.

“We do however want to support local businesses and we have explored options with Mr Sumner, including the potential to build new business premises on the as yet undeveloped land adjacent to the park.

“In a discussion with Mr Sumner last Friday we agreed to review the clause in the leases for the business park that restricts motor vehicle trades from operating at the site.

“Our legal team are checking if this is practical and fulfils any legal obligations we may have including commitments to current tenants of the business park. We will progress negotiations with Mr Sumner and our agents Alder King to see if a resolution can be found.”