Begbies Traynor appointed to handle affairs of Stoke recycling firm
A recycling company whose premises were devastated in a serious arson attack has fallen into administration, with the Manchester office of Begbies Traynor appointed to handle its affairs.
Firefighters spent several days tackling the huge blaze at the premises of HPR Stoke, Redhills Road, Milton, Stoke-on-Trent earlier this month. At the height of the blaze more than 50 firefighters were involved in the incident and smoke from the fire could be seen for several miles.
Crews had to pump water from a nearby canal to try and stem the fire, while the Environment Agency was also drafted in the check on contamination levels.
An investigation by Staffordshire Police, assisted by Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, concluded the blaze had been started deliberately.
The fire badly damaged the firm’s premises leaving it unable to continue operating from the site.
HPR Stoke, which was only incorporated in July 2015, was involved in the recycling of plastic materials, mainly drinks bottles, and hundreds of tonnes of the waste was destroyed in the fire.
The company was backed by Northern Trading (Cumbria) Ltd, which emptied bottle banks around the country and then contracted HPR Stoke to process the waste.
Northern Trading is thought to be the firm’s largest creditor.
A company called Hanbury Plastics Recycling Ltd had previously operated the site, although this company has now been liquidated. HPR Stoke took over the operation from July 2015.
Paul Stanley and Jason Dean Greenhalgh, both of Begbies Traynor in Manchester have been appointed joint administrators.
Stanley said: “I’ve been down to the site and it’s a real mess. There’s just no business left.
“The roof of the premises fell in and trying the determine the assets of the firm or its records is proving very difficult. Paper records have probably been destroyed and I’m now checking electronic records to see what I can recover.”
Records at Companies House list Richard Charles Devine as the sole director of the company. Mr Devine was also a director of Hanbury Plastics Recycling Ltd.
Stanley and his colleagues are now trying to trace workers who were employed by the business to establish more information.
“We think there must have been workers involved in the recycling operation who have now lost their jobs so we are keen to try and talk to them if we can,” he said.
Anyone with information on the company, or who may have worked there has been asked to contact the administrators on 0161 837 1700 or alternatively, email mark.weekes@begbies-traynor.com.
