ASHFORD'S Honda garage at Orbital Park is not to become part of the Barretts' operation after all.

Paul Barrett, group managing director of Barretts, said that, sadly, a deal had not been struck. His Canterbury-based company has a Honda franchise in that city and in Ashford it has Rover and Land Rover franchises based on Orbital Park.

In October Mr Barrett said heads of agreement had been drawn up between his company and Honda for his company to buy the Ashford franchise but he had not yet seen the books. This week he declined to say what had led to the breakdown in negotiations.

John Kennedy, Honda's network development manager, said he,too, was sorry things had not worked out. He was now implementing plan B.

There had always been another player on the scene and he was hoping to announce details of a new proposal next week. Staff at Ashford Honda were being kept in the picture.

The need for a deal came about last year when Kieran Nayer, managing director and a minority shareholder in Ashford Honda, resigned and Honda bought him out.