A ST JOHN’s councillor has called on Homebase chiefs to quell the concerns of worried staff members who fear losing their jobs if the site is taken over by The Range.
Coun Richard Udall has written to Homebase managing director Damian McGloughlin in a bid to force the ailing retail giant to speak out and secure the future of the 35 people who work at the store.
Earlier this year The Range applied for planning permission from Worcester City Council, seeking permission to drop a planning condition which prevented anybody other than Homebase from occupying the store.
The ailing retailer revealed in the summer it intended to close 42 of its stores nationwide but in order to close the Hylton Road site it must amend a planning condition which dates back more than 30 years.
Should it succeed, The Range is expected to take over the site with the creation of 85 jobs and Coun Udall said he hoped current employees would be offered roles at the new store.
“They have been treated very badly, they deserve some information and security,” he said.
“Ideally they would be allowed to transfer their employment to a new employer, some may wish to continue to work for Homebase at other stores, but it appears just as likely they could all be out of a job, it is unfair and wrong to keep them in the dark, they deserve some explanation and some assurances.”
Coun Udall claimed many staff only heard the store would be closing after reports of the planning propsosals became public earlier this summer.
“Staff have told me it came as shock, they had no idea and no prior information The Range wanted to take over their store, to date they have received very little information from their employers, they don’t know if they will continue to have jobs.” he said.
“A good employer would do all that they could to secure the employment of their staff and would seek to transfer their employment to the new owners as a condition of sale”.
“I hope my e-mail to the company will encourage them to shine some light onto the situation and to share their plans with their loyal staff who have worked long and hard for Homebase, many for several years.
“They deserve to be treated better than this and I hope we can help to secure their future.” he added.
Homebase declined to comment when approached by the Observer.
