SMC Group is closing its Renault dealership in Guildford at the end of the month.

The group hopes to keep redundancies to a minimum and redeploy staff to its Woking and Weybridge Renault sites

The dealership has been open for seven years and will close its doors on March 28.

James Kimber, managing director at SMC Renault, blamed the decision on the economic climate.

He added: “As everyone is well aware, the economic conditions are particularly challenging at the moment, and have hit the motor industry particularly hard. This, combined with the overheads at the showroom in Guildford, has led us to reassess our trading standpoint.

“After exploring various possibilities, we’ve reluctantly concluded that the only way to adjust our business to the recession is to close the Guildford showroom and relocate to our existing sites in Woking and Weybridge.

“It has been a very difficult decision, at a time when we are marking the 25th anniversary of SMC Group and also with the sad news that our chairman Colin Knight passed away suddenly in February.”

SMC is currently consulting approximately 16 staff over their future employment, and writing to more than 30,000 customers to advise them of the changes.

A collection and delivery service will be in place to ensure that the group’s existing customers are able to have their cars serviced and the Woking and Weybridge sites.

The group hopes that the closure of the Guildford site will ensure the future of the Woking and Weybridge sites for its customers and staff.