THE firm behind the revival of the Witney Trade Fair has gone into liquidation.

According to Companies House, Abacus Events Ltd has been liquidated after a court order made by District Judge Payne on October 16. This is known as compulsory liquidation. 

The order was sought by West Oxfordshire District Council, which said the firm owed it more than £16,000 in unpaid business rates. It was also supported by 12 other "interested parties" who claimed they were owed more than £100,000, a spokeswoman said.

Councillor Richard Langridge, cabinet member for resources at the local authority, said: "The district council obtained a liability order in 2014 against Abacus Events for unpaid business rates.
"Attempts by enforcement agents to collect the arrears owed by the company were unsuccessful and therefore the council, in order to protect the interests of taxpayers, sought an order winding up of the company in early 2015.

"Whilst Abacus Events attended the initial court hearing in July 2015 it did not defend the action in October 2015."

Records on Companies House show that the firm was incorporated in October 2011 and its managing director is listed as Witney businessman Chris Clinkard, 51, who was appointed in December 2012.

Mr Clinkard organised the Witney Trade Fair last year, which had last been held in 2005 and brought thousands to the town.

When asked for comment, he referred the Oxford Mail to the Insolvency Service, an agency of the Government which deals companies going into liquidation.

A spokesman for the service said: "The matter is in its early stages and the official receiver as liquidator will investigate the causes of the company’s failure and interview the company’s officers as part of that investigation. As such, he would welcome any information relating to this to be provided to him at the above address."

The official receiver and liquidator is Graham Rogers, the spokesman said. He can be contacted at: The Insolvency Service, 3D Apex Plaza, Forbury Road, Reading, RG1 1AX, or emailed via reading.or@insolvency.gsi.gov.uk

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