AN Egremont company has gone into administration, leaving over 150 businesses out of pocket.

Toman Paving Ltd, which has been trading for nearly seven years, owes more than £1.5million to its creditors. Out of 155 companies, the bulk are local firms.

Among those owed money are: Firpress Printers in Workington, Franklin Steel in Whitehaven, Gibbons Accountants in Workington, G & AM Lawson Ltd in Distington, Jackson’s Timber in Whitehaven, Mayson Bros in Egremont, Moorhouse Readymix in Bigrigg, Mossop Construction Services Ltd in Cleator Moor, and Thomas Armstrong in Flimby.

Administrators Begbies Traynor were appointed in September after staff were made redundant and the company ceased trading. Documents have now been published through Companies House – the government body which registers companies and makes the information public.

Based on Baybarrow Road, Toman Paving Ltd offered a range of services, including paving groundworks, highway maintenance, commercial paving and pothole sealing, as well as repairing and resurfacing public roads.

Documents made available on Companies House reveal a new company, Toman Contracting Ltd, has now been established, with the same directors.

Toman Contracting Ltd had been continuing to trade from the same site.

Toman Paving Ltd also owns an investment property at Carron Cottage, Jacktrees Road, Cleator Moor. Directors had been in the process of seeking planning permission for three building plots on the site, to be sold to private developers or self-builders.

A spokesman for Begbies Traynor said: “The joint administrators will continue to realise the company’s assets and investigate the reasons for its failure.

 “Eddisons Commercial Ltd and Eddisons Commercial (Property Management) Ltd, both part of the Begbies Traynor Group, have been instructed to assist the joint administrators with the realisation of the company’s assets which include plant and machinery, and an investment property.  

 “The joint administrators are also assisting Bibby Financial Services Ltd with collecting the company’s book debts.

“Based upon realisations to date and estimated future realisations, the joint administrators are hopeful that a dividend to unsecured creditors will be available, but this will be dependent upon the level of realisations achieved in respect of the company’s book debts and the sale of a property owned by the company.”

Egremont councillors have spoken of their concern at the news.

Neil Ferguson, Egremont town councillor, said the loss of the paving company would be a “shame” for the town.

He said: “It would be devastating. It would mean another empty property again. Anyone who employs local people - we need businesses to employ local people. It’s sad news.”

Mike McVeigh, also an Egremont town councillor, added: “I’m really sorry to hear that.They seemed to be demonstrating professionalism with plenty of work. I’m really sad to hear that, as I would be for any local business.”

Toman Paving Ltd were contacted, but they declined to comment.