A STRATFORD family car franchise has joined the national fight to stop Mercedes' plans to scrap the traditional network system and replace it with just 11 main car showrooms, transforming existing showrooms into service centres.

The managing director of Speeds, Martin Speed, said he was only to happy to join in legal action challenging the decision of the prestige car manufacturer's parent company Daimler Chrysler as several jobs could be on the line.

Speeds, in Warwick Road, is one of 155 dealerships nationwide to be affected by the proposals for which Daimler Chrysler has given each of its franchises a year's notice of the changes, which remain secret at the moment, but are likely to include the formation of the "hub" system.

Mr Speed believes, even without knowing the full extent of the plans, that the consumer will be the first to experience the disadvantages as the chance to haggle over new car prices is set to disappear. However, if the worst case scenario is realised, around 15 fully trained members of staff may be forced to go because the sales section of the business will no longer be operational.

"That is the worst things could possibly be and we can't even bear really thinking about that yet, but there are several other disadvantages to this we have to face," said Mr Speed.

"Consumer benefit because there will be standard pricing across the network, giving no room to negotiate over pricing and there will none of the personal service we can offer to personal customers."

Mr Speed met Stratford MP John Maples and Euro MP Liz Lynne last week to try to secure their support for the impending court case, being brought by the Mercedes Dealer Council.

"We believe we have a good chance of winning this fight and we need to win it as well," he said.