A COMPANY which services vehicles for Welsh Water says it is thinking of quitting its prestigious premises at Redhill in Hereford, writes LIZ WATKINS.

Hyder Transport has confirmed that it could be moving its garage services across the city to Broomy Hill, the local HQ for Welsh Water.

Both are part of the Hyder group and a spokesman said they were looking at the cost benefits and efficiency savings of moving their garage repair business from one site to the other.

"We are liaising with staff who may be involved in the move,'' he said. Five staff will be affected.

A decision is expected in the near future.

If the move takes place it could mean that three major buildings, adjoining each other on the small roadside estate at Redhill, will become vacant at the same time.

Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Service wants to sell its ambulance headquarters next door to Hyder Transport as part of a reorganisation plan.

It almost completed a deal with Herefordshire Council which owns the highways depot adjoining.

The council had planned to expand its premises to bring several services together and the ambulance site would have made this possible.

But now the council is planning to base its highways services at Rotherwas instead.

Herefordshire Council are now expected to sign up with Pontrilas Developments Ltd for premises at Thorn Business Park at Rotherwas, formerly owned by Thorn Lighting.

When this deal is concluded, their Redhill premises would become vacant and, with the ambulance trust likely to re-advertise its HQ for sale, the whole complex could be on the market at the same time.

Which could leave a question mark over the future of the Romany Close travellers' homes built on council-owned land in front of the highways depot.