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Worry as 49 face Christmas jobs axe
Laura Shannon3/11/2007
JOBS will be axed from Rochdale’s biggest used car hypermarket just weeks before Christmas.
Carcraft will cut 49 jobs from its 500-strong Nixon Street staff, but will not say who is to go until the end of November.
It has put some of the blame on being refused a site to expand its operations at the new Kingsway Business Park.
A member of the staff, who asked for his name not to be disclosed, told the Observer: “We have been completely left in the lurch. Nobody knows who is going and who is staying.
“We have to work right up to the deadline on 30 November before they tell us if we are being made redundant.
“It is not the first time Carcraft has made redundancies and relocated employees to other centres. We all feel under threat.”
Carcraft has told employees they will have an opportunity to relocate to its sites in Merseyside and the West Midlands, but not necessarily to work in the same role.
Another source spoke out about the impact on staff.
“We haven’t really been told what is going on, it is very difficult. With this happening in the lead up to Christmas there are a lot of unhappy people around the place.
“It is just awful. Everyone is in limbo right now.”
In a statement released to the Observer, Carcraft laid some blame on the fact it has been unable to get a site on the Kingsway Business Park.
Carcraft’s finance director Tony Hinkley said: “I first spoke to the Rochdale Development Agency in October 2005 about securing a 20-acre site.
“A brand new head office, showroom and national vehicle preparation centre would have created around 300 additional jobs in the town.
“Unfortunately, this was not possible as the agency is not allowing motor retail outlets at Kingsway.”
John Hudson, chief executive of RDA, said: “We are disappointed Carcraft made the decision to make some staff redundant, as we have been working closely with them since 2005 to explore options for expansion and relocation within the borough.
“The development of a comprehensive Carcraft scheme on Kingsway was considered but there are planning and legal restrictions, which prevented such a large car showroom development on this site.
“We value Carcraft’s presence in the borough and hope to continue working with the company on their proposals for the future.”
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16/11/2007 at 22:55