BUS company Wilts & Dorset has announced the sale of Salisbury bus station in Rollestone Street, saying it will close on January 4.

Amesbury bus station, sold earlier in the year, will close on the same day.

Salisbury Reds (Wilts & Dorset’s Wiltshire bus operation) say services will then operate from bus stops within the city and town following “extensive” consultation with customers and local authorities.

The fleet of 100 single and double deck buses will continue to be parked and maintained by the company’s main depot at Castle Street in Salisbury and modern central office accommodation has been found for the Salisbury bus station team.

There will be no job cuts in Salisbury and no reduction to services to and from the city. No staff are based in Amesbury.

Ed Wills, operations director for Salisbury Reds, said that since the company announced that the two sites were up for sale in November last year interest from potential purchasers has been strong.

He said: “We cannot discuss terms of both sales but we are convinced that it is the right thing to do. Many other towns and cities no longer have bus stations, due to the expense of maintenance, which can be put to better use funding our services, and the fact that our customers prefer to board or alight from our buses nearer to shops and services within a town. This is supported by communication we have received from bus users.

“We can now also provide better working conditions for our team of 150 staff at Salisbury.” The Salisbury Bus Station opened in August 1939 prior to the start of the Second World War. A memorial plaque dedicated to the 12 employees who lost their lives in the Second World War will be relocated to the new offices.

The buyers of the sites and their potential future use have yet to be confirmed.