SEVENTY jobs are to go when one of Winchester's oldest industrial sites closes.

Dorset-based Stalbridge Linen Services - which operates a commercial laundry in Hyde Abbey Road - took over the former Wintex business in 2005.

The deal marked the end of the line for Wintex - formerly Winchester Linen Services - after 120 years in business.

At the time, a statement from Stalbridge, which is part of the Johnson Service Group, made no mention of closure plans.

"Stalbridge are looking forward to a long and successful partnership with Wintex," a spokesman said at the time.

"We believe that it will further enhance the quality and capacity of the service that we provide."

Soon after taking over two years ago, the firm increased the operating hours, triggering criticism from neighbours.

Around 60 of them held a meeting that summer, complaining of trucks arriving before 5.30am and after 10pm.

But Stalbridge insisted this week that residents' protests were not the reason why it decided to close.

While opposition from neighbours was a "contributing factor", it was not the main issue, said chief operating officer, Guy Other.

Instead, the site was closing because its services were being "duplicated" by three other depots in Dorset, he said.

"The customers currently serviced by the Winchester laundry are likely to be serviced by other established Stalbridge Linen facilities based in Dorset," Mr Other said.

"The closure is in no way a reflection of the excellence of the staff in Winchester who have served Stalbridge and the hospitality industry in the region extremely well for many years."

Mr Other added that the firm was trying to find alternative jobs for the staff facing redundancy in Winchester.

He said they would be invited to apply for vacancies at other depots run by the Johnson Service Group, the nearest being in Basingstoke.

The closing date of the Winchester operation is not yet known, he added.

The neighbours who previously complained about the operation this week welcomed its demise.

Brenda Chandler is the scheme manager at Danemark Court, a nearby sheltered housing complex.

"I'm really pleased to hear that it's closing, the noise at the weekend used to drive me nuts," she said.

But she said she had sympathy for those who would lose their jobs, and had some concerns about what might replace the laundry.

Mr Other added he could not say what would become of the site, as Stalbridge was a leaseholder, and did not own the land.