MALVERN Hills District Council has made two maintenance mechanics redundant.

They worked at the council's depot in Pickersleigh Road, which underwent a health and safety inspection in the early summer.

The site was found to be so unsafe it was dangerous for the mechanics to work there. It is now being used for storage, with the council's maintenance work being done by an external contractor.

Work to make the site safe enough for the employees to return was deemed too expensive, when it is likely to be knocked down to accommodate the new health centre proposed by the South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust.

At a meeting of the council's executive committee on Tuesday evening, approval was given for a severance fund of £100,000 financed from savings in the council's budget.

Part of this money will be used to pay off the two mechanics. The remainder will be used as a contingency fund for redundancy and early retirement packages.

However, yesterday (Thursday) council leader Tom Wells said further redundancies for council staff were not planned.

"I anticipate no further redundancy settlements in the foreseeable future," he said. "Our staff are our greatest asset and I'll do all I can to support them in the delivery of services."

He added that alternative employment within the council for the mechanics had been investigated, but nothing suitable had been found.