A HISTORIC name could soon disappear from the business scene in Dorchester.

Loders of Dorchester has confirmed changes are underway after the announcement it has sold one of its garages and talks are underway to sell remaining businesses.

The company owns several businesses including the Volkswagen garage at The Grove, Dorchester, Dorchester Service Centre and two accident repair centres in the county town.

In Yeovil, the group owns a Skoda and Volkswagen centre, Trade Parts Specialists (TPS) and a body shop.

Loders currently employs about 200 people across all its garages.

Managing director of Loders Brian Keene, 60, said he had decided to retire earlier this year and following that decision he and the Loders board had been working to sell the business as a whole.

But he said: “An agreement to sell the entire share capital of the group proved difficult and an alternative plan was developed to sell the group on a piecemeal basis.”

On November 8, the company sold its Audi car centre in Yeovil to Poole Audi which is run by Ocean Automotive.

He said: “I am delighted to confirm that the Audi centre in Yeovil has been acquired by Poole Audi.

“This further develops the market area strategy that Audi UK is promoting.”

Mr Keene, who took over the business from the Loders family in 2005, said that sale of the other parts of the business was now in an advanced negotiation stage with another motor group.

He said: “I can confirm we are in advanced negotiations for them to purchase certain assets of the remaining group.

“These negotiations are at a very advanced stage and we anticipate having a very positive outcome very soon.”

He added: “The board would like to express their sincere apologies for the uncertainly that currently exists in the business.”

Mr Keene said that due to the economic climate over the past three years Loders did not have a large number of staff and he was confident that the majority jobs would be preserved with the conclusion of a sale.