ONE of Watford's major employers is considering closing down, sparking fears among workers of widespread redundancies.

Ink manufacturer Sun Chemical, which employs 120 people and has had a presence in the town since the 1930's, confirmed on Thursday, October 30, it was looking at shutting its Cow Lane plant.

Company bosses have informed Watford Council and are in talks with trade union officials over potential redundancies.

Corporate vice president and group managing director Richard Pettifor said: "We are looking at relocating our Watford site to other sites round the country."

Some office staff may be relocated within the "local area", but Mr Pettifor said he could not rule out job losses among the rest of his workforce.

A worldwide drop in the demand for printing ink and hugely expensive environmental regulations had led the company to re-evaluate the Watford site, he said.

Rumours Sainsbury's want to use the site were unfounded, he added.

A final decision over the plant's future would not be made until 2005, prompting criticism from unions that their members were now in a "state of limbo".

"They should make a firm decision: either close the plant or keep it open," said Vernon Robson, east of England branch secretary for the Graphical, Paper and Media Union (GPMU).

"I'm sure the easier option for them is to get rid of it, but of course we want it to remain open and we'll be pushing hard to make sure it stays that way," he said.

Mr Robson accused company bosses of keeping the union "in the dark" and said they had not been kept up to date with the latest developments.

"We suspect they know more than they are letting on," he said.

Watford Chamber of Commerce described the announcement as "very bad news".

Chief executive Roger Gagan said: "I'm totally against this site closing; we want the jobs to stay here.

"This is very bad news for the site's workers and very bad news for the town.

"It will be a sad day if Sun Chemical leaves Watford."

Yesterday, the council confirmed Watford Mayor Dorothy Thornhill had requested a meeting with Mr Pettifor to discuss the implications of any closure.

"The mayor wants to meet with him as soon as possible," a spokesman said.

Sun Chemical is the world's largest producer of printing inks and pigments and can trace its origins back to 1830.