The tough economic climate has forced a Wolverhampton business to demolish its garden centre and concentrate on its operation at its remaining site.
The Midlandscapes Garden Centre in Birches Barn Road was bulldozed this week, with the loss of two jobs. Two remaining staff have transferred to sister company, landscape and building materials supplier Codsall Stone & Paving at nearby Wergs Hall Road. Here, it trades from Wergs Garden Centre, with which it has a franchise agreement.

However, under the terms of the agreement it is not permitted to sell plants at the site, so with the loss of the Midlandscapes Garden Centre the company no longer has a plants business.

Manager Stuart Pumphrey told DIY Week that the garden centre had been pulled down in order to save on rates, but that with the other outlet just three miles away the company believed it would be possible to retain much of the business.

"It wasn't by choice, and it wasn't a decision we took lightly," he said. "We've pulled it down purely for rates reasons, but the building had to come down anyway because it was in such a bad state of repair.

"In the economic climate we're in we decided to relocate under one roof to Codsall Stone & Paving, where we've got a much bigger site and space to expand. We sell to the trade, retail and to the merchant and we're continually expanding: we're always increasing stock, and we're always looking to move forward.

"We were hoping that customers would come over here, and it's working for us," he added.

Meanwhile, if trading in general improves, Mr Pumphrey said, the garden centre could well be resurrected.

"There are plans and permissions that have gone into rebuilding the centre," he explained, "so although we've demolished it we may be rebuilding it at a later date."