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Hendy News

Hendy’s all-new £1m Tonbridge dealership to host parent parking and ‘Walking Bus’ service for local primary school

Hendy’s all-new £1m Tonbridge dealership to host parent parking and ‘Walking Bus’ service for local primary school
4 min read Published 13 Aug 24

- Site at Tudeley Lane, off the A26, will display new and used Vauxhall and Peugeot vehicles, as well as provide state-of-the-art vehicle servicing capabilities

- Hendy Group is partnering with Bishop Chavasse Church of England Primary School on a walk-to-school initiative; new dealership will provide parents with free drop-off parking and host a ‘Walking Bus’ for the safe transfer of pupils to school gates

- New dealership opening takes Hendy’s total number of sites across the south of England to 80

- Celebrated chef and TV presenter Rosemary Shrager provided culinary delights at official launch event on 1st August.

Hendy Group, which is celebrating its 165th year as a family business, has opened a new multi-brand showroom on Tudeley Lane in Tonbridge, Kent, for the sale of new and used Vauxhall and Peugeot vehicles. Representing a £1million investment on a brownfield site and creating over 40 new jobs, the Hendy Vauxhall and Peugeot facility will also provide state-of-the-art vehicle service and repair capabilities, Motability support, and specific sales and service for the latest range of Vauxhall vans.

To cater for the expanding portfolio of Vauxhall and Peugeot battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, the new site will be equipped with charging bays, for use by the on-site team and by visiting customers. The site’s brand-new workshop will include a Class 7 MOT facility and eight workshop bays for car and commercial vehicles, ensuring the rapid and high-quality completion of service, maintenance and repair work.

Parent parking and ‘Walking Bus’ service for Bishop Chavasse Primary School

As part of an ongoing commitment to the local community, Hendy Vauxhall and Peugeot Tonbridge is working with Bishop Chavasse Primary School to support the safe arrival of pupils each morning. The dealership will provide a free drop-off parking facility for parents and will host a ‘Walking Bus’ that will ensure the safe transfer of pupils to the school gates. The initiative, which goes live from the start of the new school term in September 2024 and is in place indefinitely, will alleviate congestion and cut emissions on roads around the school, as well as enhance safety for pupils.

Hendy Group is one of the UK’s leading independent motor retail groups, representing over 20 vehicle brands at more than 80 locations across the south of England, from Devon, through Dorset, Wiltshire and Hampshire into West and East Sussex, Surrey and Kent. Founded 165 years ago and still run by the family that still bears its name, Hendy Group employs over 1,700 people and last year had a turnover of more than £1.2billion.

Fun activities and culinary delights at official launch event

Hendy Vauxhall and Peugeot Tonbridge site, which has operated on a limited basis with a small team since April, was officially launched at a celebratory event on Thursday 1st August. Hendy Group invited members of the public to join the fun and to sample the culinary delights that was laid on by acclaimed local chef and TV personality Rosemary Shrager.

The launch event also featured a display of classic Vauxhall models, and attendees were able to get an adrenaline fix by taking to the wheel of Formula 1 racing simulators.

Paul Hendy, Chief Executive at Hendy Group, said: “It’s been great to see the transformation of the site on Tudeley Lane which has already started to attract many new Vauxhall and Peugeot customers who previously had to travel much further to see the latest model ranges and have their vehicles serviced. This latest opening underlines our commitment to Kent, and we look forward to building our presence in the local area through the creation of many new employment opportunities and our innovative new partnership with Bishop Chavasse Church of England Primary School.”