Chadwicks to close at end of month

Chadwicks in Athlone is to close at the end of this month. The move will result in ten job losses and will end the decades-long association between the building materials supplier and the town. The company blamed the downturn in the construction sector in the Midlands, and the country's ongoing economic difficulties, for the closure. Early last week, a Chadwicks spokesperson said consultation with staff was taking place and it was hoped that "some of the jobs" at the store in the Athlone Business Park might be saved. However, those hopes were extinguished on Friday when it was confirmed that the store would shut. A statement issued by Chadwicks read: "In response to the downturn in the construction sector in the region, the sustained change in market conditions and continuing losses at the business, and with no prospect of a recovery in sales, Chadwicks regrets that it is to close its branch at the Athlone Business Park on November 30." The statement added: "We are currently in consultation with our ten staff regarding redundancy terms." Chadwicks is part of the building materials group Grafton, which also owns Telfords and Woodies DIY.