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The showroom closed on Tuesday
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Car dealership shut down and left empty

By Stephanie Cockroft
May 17, 2012

A PROMINENT car showroom which greets motorists on the way into Aldershot is now sitting empty, after it was closed down due to financial difficulties.

The Renault showroom on Ash Road was shut down on Tuesday morning and emptied of all its vehicles on the same day.

The centre is part of the Mill Lane Group, which includes Ford, Fiat and Mitsubishi servicing, repairs and sales.

A source told the News & Mail that staff working at the Ash Road showroom went into work and were told within 20 minutes to go home, as the site was closing.

Lorries then came and picked up all the vehicles the same day.

The group has been selling new and used cars in the town since 1991.

There are believed to be about 15 members of staff affected by the closure.

When the News & Mail tried to contact the showroom, there was no answer and the building was closed down.

A spokesman for the national office of Renault confirmed the showroom had closed.

In a statement released on Thursday, he said: "The business is about to go into receivership.

"We are working on solutionts to maintain Renault representation in the area."

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Most recent user comments 10 of 10

My sister was one of the members of staff that were let go on Tuesday. She is devasted. Hopefully she and her hard working co-workers can get new jobs soon. Very sad.

worried

abroad, Not Aldershot
23/05/2012 at 14:38

Could've been better if the employees were informed, just a little consideration.

Dinez taxi Farnborough
22/05/2012 at 20:13

A notice seems appropriate and considerate.

Google 'Dinez Taxis'
22/05/2012 at 07:38

I have every sympathy for the people who have lost their jobs I myself have had only 7 days work this year. It is hard out there with no sign of it getting better. The only advice I can give is for those who have jobs, do the best job that you can do and hope that your company can stay afloat.

UKR
21/05/2012 at 16:48

The garage was built in the late 60s, it was then a VW main dealer called Safari Motors, i used to go there and buy oil, if you took along an oil can they would sell you the oil from a large tank, then it was Powell Mattia ,then David Mattia then Mill Lane, Very sad day for the staff, i always found them a good garage to deal with.

clamicil per-inger
21/05/2012 at 12:33

I can't believe Renault has closed so quickly. I was only in there last week having some work done on my car and there was no hint of it. Really terrible news.

raymond659, Tongham
20/05/2012 at 20:25

thats all well and good ukr but what about the people that now have no jobs and families to keep etc if there is any doubt about job losses the staff should be given chance to look elsewhere for another job

tinks 41
18/05/2012 at 13:06

This car sale room has been their longer than 1991 - i remember going their for a job in 1977 - maybe a different car group but has been their for well over 30 years!

Another business in Aldershot has gone - what a shame -more people out of work - what next?

Maybe those in north lane should think on about trying to stop a business setting up bus business - because if they have their way another business will pull out of area - and more unemployment - just because they don't want it in their backyard!

Mill lane can allways become housing - like every other biulding in the town that becomes empty - oh no that might up set because this is a business area ?

Aldershot Born
18/05/2012 at 03:20

In these cases as soon as every avenue has been explored and failed the plug has to be pulled, if they hoped to pull off a rescue deal they had to play their cards close to their chest