Receivership for Bikers
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• The troubled Yorkshire quarry haulier which had been tipped to take a major British Steel contract from rail went into receivership last week.
AW Biker, trading as Bikers of Bedale, was put into receivership when its bank — National Westminster — found the corn pany's overdraft unacceptable.
But the North-East traffic area this week says it still plans to hold a disciplinary inquiry in early July, and is waiting for the receiver to clarify the status and expected future of the company. Last month its managing director Anthony Biker was jailed for nine months and the company fined £27,000 for falsification of tachograph offences (CM 28 May-3 June).
Just a few months ago AW Biker had been hotly tipped to take over a British Steel contract for 9,000 tonnes of lime stone a week — about 60 truck loads a day — from a quarry at Redmire to works at Redcar. The work is currently carried out by British Rail.
AW Biker continues trading as the receiver, BDO Binder Hamlyn, tries to sell the company as a going concern. The 15 drivers are still employed. Malcolm Turnbull from BDO says the company's customer base, which is believed to include some work with British Steel, is Biker's most valuable asset.
Bikers runs 15 vehicles and has a leasehold workshop and depot at Leyburn. Company turnover is £1.5m. North Yorkshire County Council, local MPs and environmental groups had all campaigned against the proposed rail-to-road swap on the 35km rural route.