Countybus is still on track
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• The administrator at Northern Counties says it is "very probable" that the Wigan-based bodybuilder will launch its single-deck Countybus body at Coach & Bus' '91 (CM 11-17 April).
There had been some doubt whether the aluminium body would by ready for the NEC show in October.
But Gordon Craig of administrators Grant Thornton, says that neither money nor staff have been withdrawn from the project. He sees no reason why the first Countybus body, which will be built on the 11.5m Volvo B1 OM chassis, should not be ready in time.
Cuts have been unavoidable elsewhere in the company; Grant Thornton has more than halved the workforce to 130, and another 15 jobs could go.
But Craig is optimistic of selling the UK's second biggest bodybuilder.
Since the administrators started operating the firm it has delivered 12 double-deckers and has orders for 10 more.
Orders for six single-deckers for Greater Manchester Buses and five airport crash vehicles have also been received.
"I am very confident Northern Counties will be here henceforth," says Craig. "There has been a lot of interest in buying the company as a whole, from home and abroad."
A creditors' meeting is being arranged for the second half of July.