Park drama as contractors try to reclaim gates

Unpaid craftsmen left thousands of pounds out of pocket after the company behind a £7 million park revamp went bust tried to get their own back—by reclaiming the ornate park gates.

Staff from Wigan-based Lost Art were stopped by security guards at Clifton Park and quizzed by police after being spotted attempting to take away the wrought iron gates supplied as part of the park's Lottery-funded makeover.

The project's main contractor, UCS Civils, was placed in receivership last week, leaving the metalwork makers owed £60,000.

Lost Art's managing director, Dominic Liptrot, told the Advertiser that he had taken legal advice on hearing of UCS's collapse and had been told that the gates were still his property as they had not been paid for.

He told how he had taken five men with him to Clifton Park to reclaim the gates and had managed to largely dismantle them when approached by police and security guards.

After discussions with the police and council officers, the Lost Art workers agreed to put the gates back together and pursue their loss through other channels.

"The police handled the situation very well," Mr Liptrot said. "We're now taking legal advice about the possibility of getting some of the money back."

Mr Liptrot said he was not hopeful of getting any of his money back and added that UCS's demise had come as a huge financial blow but said that he had no choice but to take it on the chin.

"We were going to use that money to take the business forward but we will have to put some of those projects on hold," he added.

"It was a big shock when we heard about UCS, a really frightening moment, but as a businessman you have to move on and decide what to do next."

Police confirmed that they had been called in to deal with the incident, which they put down to a "civil dispute."

UCS ceased trading after its parent company, the £40 million turnover Rand Group, which employed 150 people, went into administrative receivership last Monday.

A spokeswoman for Rotherham Borough Council confirmed that they were aware of an incident at Clifton Park.

She added: "Representatives from the firm of sub-contractors who supplied the new gates did come to Rotherham recently but after discussions with council officers left, leaving the gates intact and hung at the park entrance.

“We understand the concerns and distress of any sub contractor in this position.

“Unfortunately, however, for contractual reasons we are unable to pay sub contractors ourselves and as unsecured creditors only the receiver can deal with their claims. 

“This is particularly galling as the public have hailed the works a great success, due largely to the quality of subcontractors’ work.”

The spokeswoman said that bosses were considering their options on how to finish the park project.