1,000 British holidaymakers affected as coach firm goes bust
The plans of around 1,000 holidaymakers have been thrown into chaos after a coach company went into administration.
The affected company is Wiltshire-based Hatts Coaches, with administrators saying that 89 jobs will be lost.
They added that "around 1,000 members of the public who have made bookings" were affected. Source: PA
Administrators FRP Advisory said that Hatts park-and-ride scheme in Salisbury, Wiltshire, would carry on but that it was "deeply regrettable and sad for all concerned that the majority of Hatts operations should have to stop trading".
Andrew Sheridan, a partner at FRP Advisory and joint administrator, went on: "The businesses simply ran out of cash. We are acutely aware of the distress and hardship many holidaymakers and day trippers will be suffering right now particularly as so many of these are of an 'older generation'.
"Our priority right now is to contact and provide dedicated helpline support for those members of the general public who have paid for holidays, day trips and other private hire with Hatts."
He went on: "We will ensure that they are advised of their statutory rights under the Consumer Credit Act where, in the first instance, if they have paid by credit or debit card they should make contact with their card providers.
"At the same time we will be ensuring that the 89 employees who have lost their jobs are provided with the necessary support to make timely claims from the redundancy payments service for any entitlements they have for unpaid wages, holiday pay, notice pay and redundancy."
The park-and-ride scheme is being supported by Wiltshire County Council, saving 32 jobs.
A family-run business, Hatts dates back to 1928.
Hatts is a bus and coach operator and contractor based in Foxham near Chippenham in Wiltshire with premises and bases in Chippenham and Salisbury.
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