6:43pm Wednesday 17th March 2010
By Lawrence Dunhill
A GARAGE in Knotty Green has closed – to the apparent shock of its 20-strong workforce.
Knotty Green Garage, on Penn Road, has a sign in the door saying it has ceased trading and cars on its forecourt were removed today.
One worker, who asked not to be named, said staff at the Vauxhall garage were shocked when they were told they were being made redundant on Saturday.
Company director Gordon Kirby tonight confirmed that all staff had been made redundant.
Mr Kirby set up the business but took a back seat in 1998 and now lives in Yorkshire.
He said: "I remember when it was founded on July 1, 1958 - this is a very sad day."
There has been a garage on the site since 1925 when Duke Hallett first built it with his father, he said.
The 76-year-old added: "In this day and age and with the recession you can't make profits on cars.
"It just wasn't a viable proposition anymore and we were forced out of business.
He said the garage, which was run as a franchise, had struggled to reach the sales targets set by Vauxhall.
He confirmed that all staff had been made redundant and said "they will be paid off".
The owner of the garage is a "silent shareholder" and did not want to be identified or make a comment, said Mr Kirby.
Vauxhall's director of communications Denis Chick said: “We are in discussions with them now and it looks like they will be going into voluntary liquidation."
He said if customers have any concerns about the closure they should contact Vauxhall's customer services on the phone number which is in their handbook.
He added that customers who need Vauxhall parts could go to garages in High Wycombe or Burnham.
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