Thursday, July 11, 2013

Cardyology

Cripes! I see that there's a rumour going round that Cardy Construction, the company that has been booked to build the Royal Sands (aka Titanic) development on the Pleasurama eyesore here in Ramsgate, is in a, um, spot of bother!

This gossip, and (please note Mr Cardy's lawyers) I am definitely NOT saying there's anything in it, was probably sparked by a charge and a subsequent winding-up order that was lodged against them last month, and appears to have been disseminated via Facebook and the local blogs, and other, Broadstairs-based, print sources.

Now, whilst someone has obviously been upset enough, and had their payments delayed for long enough, to go to the trouble of trying to wind the company up, that is definitely not the same as saying the company is on the skids, or that it is about to g* b*** (asterisks there to protect the innocent). In fact it's a tactic that's often used as leverage to get a delayed payment out of a firm when relations have turned a bit sour, and doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the ongoing viability of the company. I know this, because my accountant Cyril told me.

Not only that, but according to my information, the striking off letter was suspended three days later, suggesting that the dispute was resolved pretty quickly once it had escalated to that stage.

I must say, Cardy's last set of accounts, for 2012, look pretty healthy. But then the construction industry has been going through hard times, and who knows what their next set of figures will look like. I would cough up the twelve quid for a credit report on them, but Cyril says he needs that for his bus journey home.

Meanwhile there's another meeting at Duffer HQ in Cecil Square tonight to discuss the whole Pleasurama mess. I wonder if Deputy Leader Poole The Fool will acquit himself better tonight than he did here in Ramsgate earlier this week? My guess is 'no'.

38 comments:

David Fagg said...

Richard...so are you saying that even though they filed for dissolution last month, it may not be as bad as it appears.

Richard Eastcliff said...

No, Mr F, let's be clear. Cardy itself didn't file for 'dissolution'. Somebody applied for it to be struck off, and that somebody was, in all likelihood, peeved because they had not been paid for some time.

Whether the outstanding debt was tuppence or two million, I can't say.

If you want to start a fund to raise the twelve knicker for the latest credit report on Cardy, be my guest!

Solo Gays said...

There is £5.60 left in our community group bank account(Solos Inc). We have been been looking for an opportunity to spend this before considering closing the account. That's nearly 50% of funds needed for the credit check!

Anonymous said...

An exhibition of Thanet cartoons should raise the funds

As a local alehouse patron ECR you will appreciate the proximity of the said Artilllery Arms to the closed Ramsgate Hospital.

It may have been before your time but once upon a time the TDC tourist information gave "Haine Hospital" as the local A and E. (Yes the closed geriatrics and former isolation hospital site).

Informative historical Thanet cartoons

Confusion about hospitals must have been endemic at TDC because one Sunday a delegation of prospective European inward investors arrived at the closed Ramsgate Hospital to view the Thanet commercial and industrial development site.

Yes Duffer Central were waiting at Westwood having directed their European guests to Ramsgate.

The delegation met a local chap who invited them to experience local culture by visiting the nearest hostelry for a Sunday lunchtime bevy (Don't eat the peanuts Mesdames et Messieurs).

Many a true word spoken through a cartoon. So imagine if you will what the Europeans witnessed in the pub.

What was required was a local historian to inform the visitors of the area's interesting heritage.

"For example Haine Hospital was built after a specific demolition by fire of the previous isolation hospital. Anthrax burials on site do you see.

"But surely your council has checked for ground contamination ?"

"Ah the council ? Well moving on these are the Lifeboat records the council should have checked. The sailors suffering anthrax brought ashore to Haine where they died."

"Your council has checked the wrong records ? was this deliberate ?"

"Moving on Sericol and Thor and Zulu rights to send contaminated chemicals back to Margate for remediation"

Just sup a pint and smile as you watch Thanet committing economic suicide.

The Europeans left never to return.

Anonymous said...

Isn't that pub John Hamilton's local ?

Solo Gays said...

Anyone want to match fund these Pink Pounds?

Solo Gays said...

Well, just off to nurse some of Thanet's poor unfortunates. In the meantime, I will consider taking 6 £1 contirbutions if you like, and chuck in the odd 40p myself. I would then be in a position to bank this and issue the cheque for the credit report.

Richard Eastcliff said...

Oh, you know what, maybe I'll just throw caution to the wind and buy the flipping report meself! It does say there's been a change in their credit status in the last 60 days, but that's meaningless really.

Richard Eastcliff said...

Drat! There are FIVE companies registered to Cardy, all at the same address - 27 New Dover Road, Canterbury.

Which one should I choose?

Press 1 for Cardy Construction Ltd
Press 2 for Cardy Canterbury Ltd
Press 3 for Cardy Healthcare Ltd
Press 4 for Cardy Design Build Ltd
Press 5 for Cardy Group Holdings Ltd

While you're waiting, here's a little Vivaldi...

Anonymous said...

Doing due diligence on Cardy should be the council's job surely?

Anonymous said...

Then there's Press 6 for
CARDY DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED
LAKEVIEW HOUSE
4 WOODBROOK CRESCENT
BILLERICAY
ESSEX
CM12 0EQ

formally (april 2013) known as FUTURE HOMES ON-LINE PROPERTIES LTD

Anybody recognise the address?

Anonymous said...

Yes that is the address of a firm of accountants called the Mudd partnership. They probably run a company formation service. Your point?

God help us said...

while you are at it have a look at who owns Cardy developments ltd

Anonymous said...

"Doing due diligence on Cardy should be the council's job surely?"

Perhaps start by identifying the council officer who is responsible for ensuring that due diligence is done. I would imagine Harvey Patterson could give you a steer on this.

Anonymous said...

Glad you are on the ball Anon 4.34. Regular Pleasurama watchers will know that its the address of SFP VENTURES (UK) LIMITED.

Anonymous said...

Richard, I think may well have just stepped over a line. I have just checked Companies House and they had just filed their accounts a few days late. There was no such Winding Up order, you appear to have made that up..with malice....It is common for accounts to sometimes be a few days late...

Anonymous said...

Perhaps you should add a new title to this blog...Cardy Apology

Anonymous said...

Or maybe you have dropped the ball 7.33. Mudd could be forming hundreds or thousands of companies every year that use their offices as their registered address. It proves nothing if SFP and Cardy are both registered there. You haven't proved a link, merely a coincidence. Sorry to burst your bubble.

Anonymous said...

"Quit, you're ruining the town" - best headline ever in The Gazette for The Duffers.

And Mayor Gibson having a fake debate on Manston too.

Anonymous said...

Re 11.31 yes Mudd do offer a business start up service and are no doubt the registered office of many companies, so to be precise 7.33 has proved a link, they share a regd office address, it is just not necessarily a very interesting link.

Anonymous said...

No 1:53 it is interesting - and not a coincidence - as both SFP and the new/strange Cardy (do the original Cardy know) are registered to the same address.

Presumably both are Keegan acting for the real directors (in the non-company sense.

Keegan and Painter hardly did all this themselves - who at the council was involved? Bayford shares/did share an office with Painter?

Anonymous said...

So are we saying that SFP VENTURES (UK) Ltd who claims to have a track record in property developments and holds the lease for the Pleasurama site only operates from a shared registration address?

Peter C said...

Actually the headline in the Gazette says "Quit, you are ruining town". Presumably they didn't use the word "the" so that it appeals to the campaigners down from Yorkshire, though to make it even more authentic they perhaps should've used "Quit, you are ruining t' town"!

Solo Gays said...

We could use my community group Solos Inc as a shell company, it has at least got £5.60 credit? Could change it to Solos Inc leisure? With profits going back into Thanet?

Anonymous said...

As long as you don't expect us to grow moustaches and wear leather caps!

Solo Gays said...

We'll have a roped off area for special interests...

Anonymous said...

Back to the point 3.16pm, it has always surprised me how so little has been made of the co-location of Terence Painter and Bob Bayford. No doubt the latter knows nothing about Pleasurama at all. Like he would have known nothing about Transeuropa Ferries being as dodgy as hell when he agreed to McGonigal letting them string out the longest line of credit in Council history.

Solo Gays said...

It never ceases to amaze me how little if anything the labour group make of that?

Anonymous said...

Sorry 1:53. I didn't mean to say 'haven't proved a link'. What I meant to say is 'have proved a coincidence'. Slip of the keyboard there. Like seeing canals on Mars it is tempting to join the dots, bit there is nothing forensic there that I am aware of. Not that I wouldn't love there to be.

Anonymous said...

My, my, so Bob Bayford has an office above Terence Painters branch in Broadstairs. So what, one might ask? Several firms have offices in Pierremont Hall so does that mean they are all conspiring with Broadstairs Town Council. Maybe they just rented them because they were available. Some people just love leaping to conclusions.

Anonymous said...

Peter, you're from London.

Peter C said...

Your point exactly? It's nowhere near Yorkshire...

Unknown said...

In respect to the last point of this blog - Brian Pool & The Trembeloes responses were weak and pre-prepared. As expected

Anonymous said...

Is "Brian Pool & The Trembeloes" a tribute band to the real "Brian Poole & The Tremeloes"?

Anonymous said...

So Peter, what does it take to be welcomed in thanet? X amount of benefits payments?

Peter C said...

I met Brian Poole a couple of years back, lovely bloke!

Anonymous said...

5:29 and 9:18 - Bayford and Painter sharing offices certainly doesn'tmean either of them are involved in Pleasurama etc.

Although Painter seems to have excellent council contacts, and it would be surprising if Bayford didn't ask for details of his office-mate of BVI companies etc?

Pleasurama is the largest seafront development in Kent so it's hardly just another bit of council business.

As with Ferrygate either a few senior councillors are making decisions outside of the council -or the other councillors know and just nod it through?

And Painter pops up even now with pre-prepared council statements and lawyers to read to the public to still try and get it through.

Smells very fishy - get the police in.

Anonymous said...

Another Infratil flight over the towns too - a Police raid and arrests of Buchanan and Pedro are required. McGonigal and KIACC can hide the fines later.