"Sad day" as Knotty Green Garage closes after five decades
6:43pm Wednesday 17th March 2010 in
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.
Comments(12)
Voyeur
says...
12:23am Thu 18 Mar 10
.
Sadly I guess it is a sign of the times.
WiLGotz
says...
3:10am Thu 18 Mar 10
Voyeur wrote:sadly you didnt do enough to help these people.
That's a shame - we used that garage and the staff were very friendly and very helpful. . Sadly I guess it is a sign of the times.
sadly you can go to bed tonight knowing full well that sadly you are not as loyal as you pretend to be.
and sadly when you wake up tomorow you will be sadly as sadly as you were yesterday.
now all you need to do is sadly pretend that you are sadly enough to bear your sadly face in public
and if you dont like my words then feel free to be sadly turning your sadly cheek
just_idea
demoness
says...
7:53am Thu 18 Mar 10
Perhaps you can suggest what else he should have done?
I think maybe you should try not to post drunk anymore...;)
demoness
says...
7:57am Thu 18 Mar 10
BUT I have to say on the flip side, I was not that impressed with the customer care from Knotty Green. I was assured when I got the car that I would have a reminder when the service was due - I never did. I also had to wait 6 weeks and made a lot of phonecalls for the service history.
This does not make this any the less sad that people are losing their jobs however.
I would say though that £582 for a complete service on a 4 year old corsa is a bit steep so unlike Voyeur I was not prepared to be a loyal customer!
TheT0nemeister
says...
9:22am Thu 18 Mar 10
WiLGotz wrote:Sadly you have nothing better to do at 10 past 3 in the morning?
Voyeur wrote: That's a shame - we used that garage and the staff were very friendly and very helpful. . Sadly I guess it is a sign of the times.sadly you didnt do enough to help these people. sadly you can go to bed tonight knowing full well that sadly you are not as loyal as you pretend to be. and sadly when you wake up tomorow you will be sadly as sadly as you were yesterday. now all you need to do is sadly pretend that you are sadly enough to bear your sadly face in public and if you dont like my words then feel free to be sadly turning your sadly cheek just_idea
pennman
says...
10:02am Thu 18 Mar 10
Voyeur
says...
10:42am Thu 18 Mar 10
.
They stopped selling petrol there many years ago and specialised in just retailing cars.
.
And WilGotz - I got a new car from there every 3 years and had it serviced there, so I can't really see what more I could have done to support them.
.
Whatever it was, it was more than you have ever done.
Hans Schmit
says...
4:57pm Thu 18 Mar 10
bbybl3000
says...
5:58pm Thu 18 Mar 10
Hans Schmit wrote:What is a german doing with a english car?
Too expensive, poor service, it's no loss!
demoness
says...
9:25pm Thu 18 Mar 10
bbybl3000 wrote:Same thing that an English person would be doing with a German car - driving it because they like it.
Hans Schmit wrote: Too expensive, poor service, it's no loss!What is a german doing with a english car?
Is that okay with you?
inkerman
says...
2:55pm Tue 23 Mar 10
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ferrellcat says...
12:03am Thu 18 Mar 10