HeilSvenska
02-26-2007, 06:58 PM
TVR shock: Smolenski back in charge
UNION officials reacted with anger after it was revealed Blackpool sports car firm TVR has been bought by its previous Russian owner.
TVR went into administration last year, with the loss of more than 250 jobs. The Transport and General Workers Union said it had learned former owner Nikolai Smolenski had bought the firm from administrators. Andy Robertson, the union's regional organiser, said: "If this means that manufacturing is taken out of Blackpool it will be a disaster for the area. "It is absurd that the previous owner, who allowed it to go into administration, is now once again the owner. "The Government should not allow this practice to take place. The workforce will be extremely angry and disappointed that Mr Smolenski has been able to walk away unscathed while they have suffered so much." A spokesman for administrators PKF confirmed a company owned by Mr Smolenski had bought the assets of TVR. It is understood that four companies put in bids for the sports car firm. A spokesman for the administrator said: "Our role was to achieve the best possible result for the creditors." He added that Mr Smolenski's bid was the highest. TVR went into administration at Christmas. More than 250 workers at its historic Bristol Avenue plant in Bispham were made redundant. Hopes had been high a number of interested consortiums would take over the famous brand and once again build cars on the Fylde coast. It is widely rumoured Mr Smolenski will now build TVRs abroad, with Italy among the favoured locations.
-Blackpool Gazette
Ugh. This is just disgusting.
UNION officials reacted with anger after it was revealed Blackpool sports car firm TVR has been bought by its previous Russian owner.
TVR went into administration last year, with the loss of more than 250 jobs. The Transport and General Workers Union said it had learned former owner Nikolai Smolenski had bought the firm from administrators. Andy Robertson, the union's regional organiser, said: "If this means that manufacturing is taken out of Blackpool it will be a disaster for the area. "It is absurd that the previous owner, who allowed it to go into administration, is now once again the owner. "The Government should not allow this practice to take place. The workforce will be extremely angry and disappointed that Mr Smolenski has been able to walk away unscathed while they have suffered so much." A spokesman for administrators PKF confirmed a company owned by Mr Smolenski had bought the assets of TVR. It is understood that four companies put in bids for the sports car firm. A spokesman for the administrator said: "Our role was to achieve the best possible result for the creditors." He added that Mr Smolenski's bid was the highest. TVR went into administration at Christmas. More than 250 workers at its historic Bristol Avenue plant in Bispham were made redundant. Hopes had been high a number of interested consortiums would take over the famous brand and once again build cars on the Fylde coast. It is widely rumoured Mr Smolenski will now build TVRs abroad, with Italy among the favoured locations.
-Blackpool Gazette
Ugh. This is just disgusting.