News

Can pay, won’t pay

Published

11 years ago

June 16, 2014

Tom Sinclair

FURIOUS businessmen have reacted angrily to being left high and dry by the collapse of Mustang Marine.

• Local businesses out of pocket

• Claims local traders misled

Representatives from several local businesses owed money by the firm, which went into administration at the beginning of March, have approached the Herald about events that have left them among unsecured creditors owed in excess of £3.1m, who are not expected to get a single penny back. Each of those business people made it clear to the Pembrokeshire Herald that the only reason they extended such long credit lines to the boat building company was the repeated assurances given by senior Milford Haven Port Authority figures and former directors of Mustang Marine that their bills would be paid in all eventualities. One trader, who asked not to be identified told us: “I was told again and again that my business would be paid. I was told it by the Port Authority and told it by the directors of Mustang Marine. If I had not been told that I would be paid and led to believe that the Port Authority would make good on what Mustang owed me, I would have pulled the plug and taken my men off site. I know others were told the same thing.” Another businessman told the Herald: “It stinks. I could end up losing everything I have spent years building up. Mustang Marine were taking money from Svitzer intended for contractors working in the profitable part of the business, and instead of paying them the directors were using that money to prop up the losses Mustang was making elsewhere. “Fair dos to Svitzer, though, when they found out what Mustang Marine were up to, they started paying contractors direct and not through Mustang. If they hadn’t I would have gone bust, and so would’ve other people. I still might have to put the business through. “We (me and other businesses) were told that the Port Authority was behind it and there was no risk of us losing out. I think the whole thing needs investigating.” HSBC Bank and former Mustang Director Huw Lewis will receive around £270K and £296K respectively as secured creditors of the firm A claim by the Port Authority to be treated as a secured creditor in respect of combined loans made to Mustang Marine totalling £384K has been rejected by the Administrators, Grant Thornton, who have run up fees in excess of £190K since their appointment on March 3 to date. Former employees of the firm are owed a total of £104,292. Local businesses that have taken the biggest cash hits include, BDS Contract Services of Hubberston are shown as being owed in excess of a quarter of a million pounds, while Pembrokeshire County Council shows up as being owed over £66,000 by the failed company. Port Engineering of Milford Haven is owed in excess of £57,000 and JP Junior Scaffolding over £41K. None of those businesses were available for comment. The Herald put a question to the auditors about the status of a reported status debt of £329K owed by Mustang Marine to Marine & Port Services Ltd. A check at Companies House showed that it Marine & Port Services Ltd.’s address was a PO Box care of Milford Haven Port Authority and that it had been wound up in 2008. The Herald put a question to the auditors about the status of a reported status debt of £329,000 owed by Mustang Marine to Marine & Port Services Ltd. A check at Companies House showed that it Marine & Port Services Ltd.’s address was a PO Box care of Milford Haven Port Authority and that it had been wound up in 2008. A spokesman for the Grant Thornton told The Herald: “It’s simply a clerical error. Trading with MHPA was historically with Marine and Port Services Ltd.” He added “When trading changed to MHPA the clerical staff at Mustang did not update the ledger account name and continued to use Marine and Port Services when in reality they should have changed the account name to MHPA.” “The liability should be recorded in the books and records as MHPA.”

Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

Published

5 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

Published

5 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.

Crime

Three men from London admit their guilt over illegal cannabis farm

Published

6 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THREE men admit their guilt after police discover over 700 cannabis plants during a raid on a former school building in Llandysul.

Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police executed a warrant at the former Ysgol Gynradd Llandysul on Heol Llyn Y Fran on November 15. Inside, they found 737 cannabis plants spread across multiple rooms.

Armeld Troksi, 29, and Njazi Gjana, 27, both from Empire Avenue in Edmonton, London, along with Ervin Gjana, 24, from Durham Avenue in Romford, were arrested at the scene and later charged with producing cannabis.

The three men appeared before Swansea Crown Court, where they admitted their involvement in the illegal operation. Defence solicitor Joshua Scouller requested a pre-sentence report for Ervin Gjana, which was granted by Judge Geraint Walters.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 20.

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: “Following a warrant executed at the former school on Heol Llyn Y Fran, officers discovered a significant cannabis grow containing 737 plants.

“We are grateful to the local community for their continued support and cooperation. Officers will remain in the area while the site is secured.

“Our commitment remains firm in disrupting drug production and supply networks across our force area.

“We encourage residents to report any suspicious activity, no matter how small it may seem. Every piece of information can make a difference, and reports can easily be submitted through our website.”