One of Pembrokeshire’s most prominent businesses is cutting jobs but has denied it is closing down.

Family-run Greens Motors has had a presence in the centre of Haverfordwest for nearly 100 years, but rumours about the future of the 162-year-old company began after the showrooms at Salutation Square were vacated.

However, managing director Martin Green told the Western Telegraph the company is just moving staff and operations to its repair and servicing premises at Withybush Motor Trading Park.

The move is in anticipation of approval for plans to build a multi-million pound retirement complex on the town centre site.

“We will operate without a showroom for a while, we are not going to be replicating the current set-up until the deal completes on planning development.

“This is phase one of our next lot of development, albeit on a smaller scale,” said Mr Green.

“People will still be able to contact us on the usual numbers.

“We want to have parts, sales and servicing under one roof and be more efficient, so are taking prudent measures.

Mr Green said the job losses will primarily be from the sales operation and although unfortunate, they are necessary as the company leaves its large premises and moves to the industrial site.

He added: “There will be some job losses as a result of what we are doing, and sad though it is, it is a small number over a period of time.”

Last month, a planning application was submitted by Pegasus Retirement Homes for permission to demolish the existing garage and showrooms and build a retirement complex, including 53 sheltered apartments.

At the time, Mr Green said the firm had been looking to move out of the town centre since selling part of the site to Aldi three years ago because it had outgrown the site.

However, planning delays over the development meant only half of the business could be moved to Withybush at the time.