Shropshire spring water jobs at risk as company 'reviews operations'
Fears were today raised over the future of a bottled water plant based in the Shropshire Hills.
Princes food and drink group, which operates the current bottling plant in Church Stretton, confirmed it is "conducting a review of its operations".
Staff at the plant on Shrewsbury Road say they have been told their jobs may be at risk in a meeting at the site.
The possible loss of the plant, which employs about 40 people, has come as a shock to Church Stretton residents as Princes has been involved in a fight against a nearby housing development for more than a year, and this time last year said it was committed to the site.
Princes spokesman said today: "We are conducting a review of our operations and until this process is complete, no further information can be disclosed."
In a statement, Church Stretton Town Council said: "We have had formal notification today that a preliminary meeting has taken place with staff and there will now be a four to six week consultation period after which a decision will be made."
Water has been bottled on the Long Mynd for 130 years. But staff at Princes have been told they may face redundancy, sparking fears about the future of the plant.
The firm currently has a formal objection lodged to plans for 47 homes and a coach park for playing fields at Church Stretton School, which it has opposed as it sees the development as a potential pollution risk to the pure water source, which is accessed at bore holes nearby.
