320 jobs at risk as GHA Coaches enters administration

GHA Coaches Ltd, a bus and coach services business operating 230 vehicles across North Wales, Cheshire and Shropshire, has ceased trading and entered administration.

Jason Bell and Christopher Petts of professional services firm Grant Thornton UK LLP have been appointed as administrators of the firm, which employs 320 people over five depots.

Headquartered at Ruabon, near Wrexham, GHA Coaches was run by principal directors Gareth and Arwyn Lloyd Davies.

Just recently, the company received a winding-up petition from HMRC due to unpaid taxes.

In response, GHA Coaches’ directors tried and failed to secure emergency funding, after which they took steps to place the firm in administration.

Commenting, Jason said: “GHA Coaches is no longer operating and regrettably the staff have been made redundant today.

“We will explore all options in terms of bringing any part of the business back to life.”

He added: “However, our immediate responsibility is to look after the interests of the creditors.”

Speaking further, Jason said he and Christopher are now working with the local authorities regarding contingency arrangements for the bus routes affected in Cheshire, North Wales and Shropshire.

An official statement released by Cheshire East Council read: “Cheshire East Council is currently working to provide alternative arrangements and we are giving urgent priority to school pupils, the elderly and other residents who routinely rely on the services provided by this particular company.

“We wish to assure our residents and schools that we are doing all we can, as a local authority, to mitigate the impact of the sudden loss of services by providing alternative transport where possible. Unfortunately we may not be able to cover all services affected.”