Jaguar closes Llandudno Junction dealership

Dec 24 2008 by Mari Jones, North Wales Weekly News

Jaguar

TEN jobs have been lost in Llandudno Junction as the town loses its prestigious Jaguar dealership.

Workmen were boarding up the windows of Rybrook Jaguar on the Tremarl Industrial Estate on Monday.

It is understood 10 staff working at the dealership and at Conwy Land Rover, which is also on the industrial estate, were laid off last Friday. Some staff have been working there for 19 years.

Jaguar customers were informed of the closure by letter on Saturday.

It became clear last week that Jaguar Land Rover is in financial trouble and its relatively new owner, Indian industrial giant Tata, has gone cap in hand to Westminster asking for financial assistance.

This has coincided with Tata’s announcement it is to sponsor Ferrari’s Formula 1 team next year.

Junction councillor Mike Priestley said: “This is very sad news and shows how the credit crunch is affecting local businesses.”

Fellow member Meirion Hughes said he was shocked by the news: “This has come as quite a shock to me and I find it alarming as Llandudno Junction has quite a few car dealerships.

“I’m not surprised given the current economic recession, however. Banks aren’t behaving as they did before the credit crunch so businesses are finding it increasingly hard to get credit.

“We’ve already been warned that 10 major British retailers are going to go bust in the New Year. We are going to be in for a very bumpy ride indeed in 2009.”

A former client of Rybrook Jaguar, who didn’t wish to be named, said: “I found out a couple of weeks ago that it was closing when I took my car in for a service. It’s a great shame as I’ve been a customer since they opened in the Junction seven years ago. Now it means I’ll have to travel to Chester to get to the nearest dealership.”

Rybrook Jaguar, which also has dealerships in Warrington and Chester, refused to comment.