Express Motors (Penygroes), which had its O-Licence revoked by the Traffic Commissioner Nick Jones is to be wound up.
On 2 January, four of the company's Directors – Eric Wyn Jones, Ian Wyn Jones, Keith Jones, and Kevin Jones – pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud involving the bus concessionary fare scheme at Caernarfon Crown Court. They face trial in September [routeone/Court Report/10 January].
The company, which operated alongside a family partnership led by Eric Wyn Jones, operated an extensive network of services in Gwynedd and Anglesey, but both firms’ O-Licences were revoked with effect from 31 December after a Public Inquiry in August [routeone/Court Report/6 September 2017].
Documents filed with the Insolvency Service, published in the Gazette, an official public record, show the meeting passed a resolution “that the company be wound up voluntarily” and liquidators be appointed.
Since the licence was revoked the vehicles have been offered for sale online and by dealers. At an auction in Lancashire earlier this week four buses were offered for sale. Other vehicles have been parked at the depot in Penygroes and on land at Bontnewydd and Deiniolen.
Robert Rutherford of Liverpool-based Insolvency Practitioners Parkin S Booth said they had been appointed to consider a Partnership Voluntary Arrangement (PVA) for the limited company and were currently advising the family partnership on a similar arrangement. “These discussions are in the early stages and we are trying to determine what assets are available,” he said.
Before its demise the company employed around 80 people including drivers, mechanics and office staff. Some left the company before the licence was revoked with many finding work with companies that took over former Express Motors routes. However around 40 drivers remained with the company into January. They were later told they are being laid off without pay.
Mr Rutherford added if the PVA is approved, staff would be entitled to redundancy payments in lieu of notice backed by a government scheme.
The TC rejected an application by Express Motors (Caernarfon) for an O-Licence [routeone/Court Report/7 March].
Applications by two other companies, both with links to the former Express Motors operation, is still being considered by the Traffic Commissioner.
