THE boss of a Southampton van hire firm facing having to move premises following complaints by residents has insisted the company was transferring to a new site anyway.

City council chiefs were today due to issue a cessation of trade notice on Contract Self-Drive in Malmesbury Road, Freemantle, after householders claimed it was treating surrounding streets as its private car park.

But manager Eugene McManus said that the firm had already signed a contract to move to a new business development in Budds Lane, Romsey and was looking to move in June.

As previously reported in the Daily Echo, a number of residents, were fed up at being unable to park their vehicles near their homes.

The firm has increased its fleet of vans and lorries from about 25 to around 250 in recent years.

Mr McManus, who was not intending to attend today's meeting of the planning and rights of way panel, said: "We became aware about two years ago that we had outgrown the current site.

"However, finding the facilities we required to move was not that easy and it had to be economically viable for us."

He expected the company to have moved by the time the notice cessation order ran out.