FRESH concerns were raised this week about the future of the company which runs Watchet Marina after HMRC started an action to wind up one of its sister firms in Wales and administrators were appointed to two other companies.

HMRC has taken action against Aberystwyth Marina Ltd, which leases the harbour in Aberystwyth, on the west coast of Wales, with its petition due to be heard next week in the High Court, in London.

And last week Burry Port Marina Ltd, in South Wales, and Port Dinorwic Marina Ltd, in North Wales, both went into administration.

The action against Burry Port Marina was taken by Shawbrook Bank Ltd, which twice provided finance facilities in 2019 secured against a lease held on Burry Port Harbour and which remain outstanding.

Earlier this year it was revealed Burry Port Marina Ltd owed more than £180,000 to Carmarthenshire County Council in unpaid rent and business rates.

Administrator Nicola Clark, a partner in insolvency experts Azets ,was appointed to Port Dinorwic Marina by a ‘qualifying floating chargeholder’, which was thought to be Shawbrook Bank Ltd, which has two outstanding charges secured against the freehold of the marina.

Port Dinorwic Marina Ltd’s registered office in Cardiff Marine Village was changed last week to the Manchester address of Azets, while at the same time the address for Burry Port Marina Ltd was changed from Cardiff to the London offices of Azets.

In March of last year, Port Dinorwic Marina Ltd briefly faced a compulsory striking-off order, although it was quickly discontinued.

The sole director of all three marina companies is 52-year-old Switzerland-domiciled Danish national Christopher Odling-Smee, who is also the sole director and secretary of their parent firm The Marine and Property Group Ltd (MPG).

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