Centre traders asked to pay £97,000 ‘debts’

Receivership firm Colliers International has written to several traders to claw back the perceived debts, after landlords Factory Outlets entered administration in July.

But many have reported still being in the dark about ongoing developments regarding the future of the centre.

Abe Daniel, owner of The Lighthouse, said: “It all happened unexpectedly and out of the blue. We are unaware about what the future holds for the centre.

“If the rent and rates were reasonable, then we could carry on. The owners should apply to get reduced rates and bring rents down.”

An administrator’s report by Moorfields Corporate Recovery states it is ‘unachieveable’ to rescue Factory Outlets as an ongoing concern.

Its objective is to achieve a ‘better result’ for creditors than would be made by immediately liquidating Factory Outlets.

Failing this, a sale of the property, including a sale of property leases, would be targeted

In the meantime, empty units are being marketed in an attempt to fill them.

For the full story, see the Herald, out Thursday, October 2.