News
Pembroke Dock: Jobs uncertainty as engineering firm faces liquidation
A LOCAL engineering firm, which recently received hundreds of thousands of pounds in support from the Welsh Government, has been presented with a winding up petition by HMRC for unpaid tax bills.
Mainport Engineering (1990) Limited which was served with the legal documents last month, but now has until 31st October to settle its debt, apply for an adjournment in court or be sent into receivership.
The Pembroke Dock based company, which has been trading since 1990, provides engineering services to the petro chemical, food processing, water treatment, manufacturing and power generation industries.
It is a major employer in the area, with official company accounts stating the average number of employees last year was 247 people, up from 224 in 2014.
The case for liquidation will be heard at The Royal Courts of Justice, London on Monday at 10.30am.
An advertisement has been placed in the London Gazette stating that any persons ‘intending to appear on the hearing of the Petition must give notice of intention to do so to the Petitioners or their solicitor by 4pm on October 28.’
The advertising of the winding up petition marks a dramatic turn of events for the Pembroke Dock based firm, which had a turnover of over £13m in year end 31 March 2015.
In June last year Mainport Engineering hit the headlines, announcing that 100 new jobs were to be created with the £1.6m expansion of the firm.
In March this year, Main Port Engineering’s new £1.8m purpose designed facility on the Haven Waterway Enterprise was officially opened by the Economy Minister.
The investment in the new facility was supported by £650,000 from the Welsh Government’s Economic Growth Fund
Speaking at the official launch, Edwina Hart said: “This is a significant investment by Main Port Engineering and it’s good news to hear that the new fabrication hall will expand their capacity and extend their capability.”
Main Port director Jeff Harries at the time added: “The new facility is an important milestone for Main Port Engineering and a sign of our confidence in the business’ future. It has already created a lot of interest from our existing clients as well as potential new customers.
“Support from the Welsh Government was pivotal as we would not have gone ahead without this funding. We are all very grateful for this help and look forward to growing the business and creating more job opportunities in the area.”
The company is directed by Alan Harries of Orielton, Pembroke and Adrian Harris of Pennar Point , Pembroke Dock. Both are also major shareholders.
A third major shareholder is Paul Muxworthy.
Welsh government support helped to create 30 new jobs and safeguard a further 155.
The employees’ futures are now uncertain, as the firm wrestles to stay afloat.
The company contributes over £10m in wages per annum into the local economy.
The Herald contacted Mainport Engineering who said they were “busy in meetings, and unable to comment at the present time.”
Crime
Pembroke Dock woman in court for failing to remove rubbish from property
A PEMBROKE DOCK resident is due to appear before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court later today (Nov 25) for multiple alleged breaches of a community protection notice.
Sheena Deacon, of 13 Wavell Crescent, Pembroke Dock, faces charges under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, which carries a maximum penalty of a Level 4 fine.
The charges stem from allegations that Deacon failed to remove accumulated household waste from her property on several occasions. According to court documents, the breaches occurred on September 19, September 26, October 2, October 9, and October 17 this year.
The charges indicate that Deacon, despite being issued with a community protection notice, did not comply with the requirements to clear and appropriately dispose of refuse and household waste from her address.
The Herald will bring updates on the case as it progresses.
News
Welsh Conservatives urge Labour to scrap ‘family farm tax’
THE WELSH CONSERVATIVES have announced plans to bring forward a Senedd debate next week (Nov 27) calling on the UK Labour Government to abandon its proposed “family farm tax.”
The tax, introduced by the UK Labour Government, is being criticised as a move that will harm Welsh farming, threaten food security, and increase food prices. Alongside the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Farming Scheme and perceived “anti-farming agenda,” critics argue this new tax amounts to a coordinated effort to undermine the future of agriculture in Wales.
Shadow Minister warns of consequences
Ahead of the debate, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs, James Evans MS, condemned the proposal, stating:
“Labour’s family farm tax will put family farms out of business, threaten our food security, and lead to food prices rising. Only the Welsh Conservatives will stand up for our farmers, and that’s why we’re bringing forward a Senedd motion calling on Labour to reverse this decision. No farmers, no food.”
NFU Cymru expresses alarm
NFU Cymru President, Aled Jones, echoed these concerns, highlighting the widespread opposition from the farming community. Speaking about the impact of the tax on Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief, Jones said:
“Earlier this week, hundreds of farmers from across Wales journeyed to London to meet with their MPs and register their deeply held concerns about these misguided and ill-thought-out reforms.
“The proposals unveiled by the Treasury last month to introduce a tax on the passing on of our family farms to the next generation are a massive added burden. They will leave many farmers without the means, confidence, or incentive to invest in the future of their business.
“NFU Cymru reiterates its call for the UK Government to halt these changes.”
The motion to be debated
The motion, set to be debated in the Senedd, reads:
“To propose that the Senedd:
Calls on the UK Labour Government to reverse its decision to impose a family farm tax on agricultural businesses.”
This debate is expected to attract significant attention, with Welsh farmers and rural communities keenly watching for the outcome.
Community
Internet outage for two villages after exchange box destroyed
RESIDENTS of Clunderwen and Llandissilio have been left without internet access following the destruction of an Openreach exchange box just outside Llandissilio village.
The incident occurred yesterday (Nov 23) when the box was reportedly demolished by a vehicle. The damage has resulted in a complete loss of internet services for the two villages, with repairs expected to take at least a couple of days.
Local residents have expressed frustration over the disruption, as the outage affects home businesses, remote workers, and households relying on internet connectivity for day-to-day tasks.
Openreach engineers have cordoned off the site, and work is ongoing to assess the extent of the damage. A spokesperson for Openreach has been contacted for comment but had not responded by the time of publication.
The vehicle involved in the incident has not yet been identified. Anyone with information about the collision is urged to contact the local police.
With repair timelines unclear, affected residents have called for increased communication from service providers to manage expectations during the outage.
“Bringing the community back online is a priority,” a local resident said. “We’re hoping Openreach can resolve the issue quickly and ensure it doesn’t happen again in future.”
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Tomos
October 28, 2016 at 9:15 am
Ruddy Senedd politicians , they really have no idea about what goes on in the real world so they, they may even have taked advice from Pembrokeshire County Council – they’re pretty good at throwing money away