GHA Coaches of Ruabon, Wrexham, ceased trading on July 13, 2016 and has gone into administration.
The company, with 320 workers and 230 buses, received a winding-up petition from HMRC for unpaid taxes.
The company attempted to secure an emergency funding package, but failed to do so.
While some media reports suggested that the tax bill was as high as £700k, CBW understands that the figure stood at £450k – of which £250k had been paid. The balance was due to be paid at the beginning of August, when GHA had been promised the £500k it was owed by another arm of government.
CBW reached out to HMRC to confirm this detail, but said it was unable to confirm as it ‘does not disclose identifiable tax affairs.’
A Spokesman for Grant Thornton UK LLP, the firm appointed as administrators, said: “The business recently received a winding-up petition from HMRC in respect of unpaid taxes.
“The directors attempted to secure an emergency funding package but were unsuccessful. They then took steps to place the company in administration.”
Jason Bell and Christopher Petts of Grant Thornton UK LLP have been appointed administrators.
Jason Bell said: “GHA Coaches is no longer operating and regrettably the staff have been made redundant.
“We will explore all options in terms of bringing any part of the business back to life. However, our immediate responsibility is to look after the interests of the creditors.
“We are also liaising with the local authorities involved on contingency arrangements for the routes affected in North Wales, Cheshire and Shropshire.”
GHA Coaches Ltd was a family business run by Gareth and Arwyn Lloyd Davies.
The lion’s share of GHA’s services are being covered by Arriva Buses Wales, Arriva Midlands and Stagecoach Merseyside, Cheshire & South Lancashire. Lakeside Coaches, Alpine Travel and D&G Bus have also covered some services.
