THE final nail in the coffin of Caterham Cars' historic home has been struck – after its owners began the search for a permanent base just 17 miles away.
The firm left its Station Avenue home of 54 years in February to move to a "temporary" home outside Crawley.
And last week the iconic British motorsport company announced it intends to stay in the Crawley area – even though visitor numbers are down.
Andy Parr, the chairman of the Caterham Festival, was among hundreds of campaigners involved in the fruitless bid to save the car firm for the town. He said: "Its a shame they wouldn't even consider returning to Caterham.
"But frankly I'm not surprised after everything else they have done. They did not join in the protest to save them in Caterham, and did not even turn up for the public inquiry."
Although Caterham Cars' current showroom on the Denvale Industrial Park at Three Bridges may remain open until next spring, a larger permanent base is being searched for around Crawley.
The town's location and good transport links have won over company bosses.
James Drake, Caterham Cars' marketing manager, said last Wednesday: "We are looking at sites in the Crawley and Gatwick area for a permanent home.
"This temporary move was not ideal at the time because we were forced to move quickly.
"The people of Caterham came together and fought to try and save the site but it was out of our hands. This has turned out to be a fresh start and Crawley has good links to both the M23 and M25."
The company said it was forced to leave its Caterham base after the site was sold to developers to build 35 retirement flats. Although planning permission for the flats was refused in June last year, developers Churchill Retirement Living won an appeal in January.
The site is presently boarded up with no sign of activity, and no indication as to when work might begin.
The Save Caterham Cars protest campaign included two Facebook sites, with more than 1,200 members, and a mass protest outside the showroom.
Mr Drake added: "In Caterham everyone knew where we were. People waiting for a train or bus would pop in all the time.
"Here we are a bit out of the way. A larger base in a prime location should not have this issue."
Churchill Retirement Living had not commented as the Mirror went to press.
