A BUSINESS which lies on the route of Hereford's proposed link road has a new chance of success at an alternative site in the city.

A planning application was last week submitted by Ron Smith and Co Ltd for a new garden and machinery showroom to be built on Rockfield Road.

The family-based business is currently based on the route of Hereford's link road in Widemarsh Street, with compulsory purchase orders having been approved by the secretary of state last year.

It means the business is now faced with "extremely tight" time pressures to either find a new site or cease trading in the county.

Now, following what is described as a "lengthy four-year search", the company is asking Herefordshire Council for permission to develop the Rockfield Road site.

Ron Smith, managing director, said: "We are grateful to Herefordshire Council for finding us the site because there are quite a few leasehold places which aren't suitable for us and this would be freehold.

"We have just got to agree on final figures but at the moment we have quite a large funding gap in terms of the cost to rebuild it but this should all be resolved by the time the planning process is complete."

Formerly occupied by the Tan Brook Centre, which housed the Rose Tinted Rags charity project for some time, permission is also being sought to demolish existing buildings as part of the application.

A workshop, offices and new access onto Aylestone Hill also form part of the project.

Equipment sold by the firm, which has more than 30 employees and another branch in Worcester, ranges from ride-on-mowers, small tractors and ATVs to push lawnmowers, strimmers, chainsaws, hedge cutters, garden tools and associated safety equipment.

Mr Smith said the company is committed to staying in the county after 25 years of trading here.

"We have always said we want to stay in Hereford and we have got a lot of customers here," he added.

"We are all thankful we have the opportunity with the site to stay in Hereford and to look after our customers."