Fleet in crisis due to construction slump
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by Charles Young Cheshire-based Curbishley Transport has called in the receivers following a struggle for the group as a whole in the construction sector.
Twenty-three drivers were made redundant last week. with a further nine to follow. Managing director Paul Tomkinson says he is confident the transport side will be sold as a going concern and blames the other eight companies within the construction group for the failure.
David Whitehouse. a partner with London-based corporate recoverer Kroll Buchler Phillips. says the group hit cash-flow problems in December when major contracts were delayed. "There is a strong order book in place and we will continue to trade the business. We are confident of selling the business, in part or in whole, as a going concern.'' says Whitehouse.
He has been appointed a joint administrative receiver with James Cleave. also a partner with Kroll Buehler Phillips.
Curbishley Transport was established four years ago in Northwich. It ran 28 trucks which mainly hauled aggregate and other construction materials.
Tomkinson says the company could have continued on its own, but nevertheless blames the government's fuel duty rises for a recent downturn.
"Someone should tell the government to bring down the fuel prices." says Tomkinson. "If we had a further profit margin things would not have been so bad and the company would be a better proposition to buy."