By Steph Johnson

Last updated at 14:05, Wednesday, 26 November 2008

Cumbrian haulage firms are tens of thousands of pounds out of pocket because a quarry business has gone into liquidation.

Furious: Jennifer Whyberd, managing director of William Armstrong, Longtown, with others also owed money by Landrec UK, Michael Dalgleish, left, and Steven Walker, and with a letter telling her of the firm’s financial woes, above left

Two jobs have been axed as a result and more are under threat.

Landrec UK Ltd was involved in the £175m project to close the Cumberland Gap.

It sub-contracted transportation of smashed stones but according to the hauliers the company stopped paying them for the work months ago.

Companies House states that Landrec went into liquidation on November 30.

The total amount of debt is not known but so far the News & Star has been told that William Armstrong at Longtown is owed £33,000, M Dalgliesh Tipper Hire which is based near Bewcastle has unpaid bills of £28,000 and DW Agriculture in Kirkpatrick Fleming is £20,000 down.

Lockerbie firm Lochmaben is owed £19,000.

Managing director of William Armstrong Jennifer Whyberd, whose grandfather started the firm 80 years ago, is furious.

She said: “I feel sickened. Everyone is saying the road is a success but how can it be when local contractors have lost out to this extent.”

Armstrong employs 150 people and has 70 trucks; when Landrec failed to pay up it had to sideline its tipper wagon and make the driver redundant.

Ms Whyberd says Armstrong will survive but there will have to be a thorough review of the business.

Mike Dalgliesh, owner of M Dalgliesh Tipper Hire, had to let his only employee go, a decision he desperately wanted to avoid.

He said: “He’s got a young family, but I’ve got a family as well.

“This could be the final nail in the coffin, I just can’t see a way out at present. We’ve paid for the wages and diesel but we haven’t been paid for the work. I could end up losing my house.”

Over at DW Agriculture Anthony Williamson is trying to get more money from the bank in order to keep his company afloat and his four employees in a job.

He said: “It’s terrible, this couldn’t have happened at a worse time. We should be able to keep going but this is disgusting.”

Landrec is being wound up by Begbies Traynor.

The insolvency practitioners were not available for comment, but the haulage firms say they have been told the debts are unlikely to be settled.

The two directors of Landrec were Earl Crooks of Bickerstaffe and Peter Salter of Preston.

Mr Crooks and Mr Salter set up another firm, Carlisle Aggregates, three months before Landrec went into liquidation.

Mr Crooks could not be contacted and Mr Salter declined to comment.

First published at 09:00, Saturday, 22 November 2008
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk