News

The new owner of Cumbrian haulier P Hinchcliffe has defended his decision to close the firm's Carlisle depot with the loss of around 40 jobs, auction off the company's fleet and relocate the operation 200 miles away. Charles Leadbetter, a tenant farmer from Cambridgeshire, acquired bulk haulier P Hinchcliffe through his company Derby Holdings but says it was "losing money hand over fist". He adds: "It was bought with the sole intention of continuing in the haulage business and moving it down to  Nottingham, which is what we have done."

The company's last accounts for the period ending February 28, 2005, filed in January this year, support Leadbetter's assertion. They reveal the firm was struggling financially its auditors noted it had suffered losses over the past three years that had impacted on its cashflow and it was relying on creditors' support to continue trading. It also says the then directors were at an advanced stage of negotiation in trying to sell the firm's property and believed the company was a going concern.

The fleet was sold by auction last weekend, but Leadbetter says that 35 new eight-wheel tippers are now on order with Daf. As well as Derby Holdings - a firm that was only created in May this year - Leadbetter also runs a company called Dalepack Fen Farms, which cultivates land belonging to Cambridgeshire County Council. Meanwhile, Northern Irish haulier Tinelly Transport has taken over P Hinchcliffe's Carlisle premises and is doing much of  its former work as well as employing ex-Hinchcliffe staff and drivers.