Sad story behind abandoned mechanics garage on Wilmer Road, Heaton, revealed

The former mechanics business on Wilmer Road, Heaton, has been unused since its owners died more than three years ago.

The property, which is also at the site, has been left unoccupied and has a number of cars, which were previously on sale, in its driveway behind its main gate.

Some of the abandoned vehicles have had their windows smashed, while another has moss growing on its windows.

It has now emerged that two men, Derek Foster and Clive Newton, ran businesses at the site until they died within a few weeks of each other.

Mr Foster ran the Lamonts Garage mechanics side of the business and rented off Mr Newton.

Meanwhile, Mr Newton sold new and used cars at the property from his firm, called Heaton Garage.

Mr Foster died in November 2018, while Mr Newton died suddenly a few weeks later in January 2019.

But it remains unclear who owns the property.

The two cars in the foreground have now been removed. Picture: Mark Davis Photography

Mr Foster’s widow, Sharon, contacted the T&A after seeing our initial story earlier this week on the mystery surrounding the site.

She said: “You think someone would come forward. It’s just very strange.

“Derek would fix the cars and Clive would sell cars. Sometimes they would work together. They were best buddies.”

Two cars which were previously left outside on the property’s front drive in front of its main gate have been removed. A large padlock has been placed on the site’s main steel gates.

Councillor Mohammed Amran (Lab, Heaton) says the site has become an eyesore and dangerous.

He added Bradford Council will do what it can to clean up the site to make it more presentable.

He said: “It’s a mess. It’s an empty home and it has been abandoned and overgrown.

“We will tidy up around it and make it look more presentable.”

After seeing our initial story earlier this week, Telegraph & Argus readers have also shared their own memories of using both men’s car businesses which ran at the same site.

Danny Malpas, who used to live in Heaton, says he took his cars to be fixed there for around 10 years and praised the service he received.

He said: “They were the best mechanics I used in my life.

They went above and beyond. They were really lovely fellas. They were inseparable. They were brilliant mechanics

“They cared about you. They were down-to-earth and genuine.”

Donna Drew said: “I lived in Heaton from 1980s and I remember the garage on the corner of Wilmer Road.

“It was run by Clive who bought and sold cars. He also lived in the attached house.

I used the garage on many occasions, from buying cars from Clive to having my car repaired by Derek

“They were a smashing pair of blokes, hardworking, reliable and didn't rip you off. I last used the garage after I had moved from Heaton in around 2010.”

Historian and photographer Mark Davis visited the site and took a number of images.