Angry businessman rips up Waterside Farm football pitch

7:00am Tuesday 30th October 2012 in News By Jacqueline McMillan

Absolutely fuming - Ronald and his men rip up their work Absolutely fuming - Ronald and his men rip up their work

A FURIOUS businessman ripped up concrete at Waterside Farm after being left £12,000 out of pocket when a contractor responsible for its £5million revamp went into administration.

In a fit of rage Ronald Downs, director of Benfleet-based subcontractor Unidig, tore up the concrete foundations of the leisure centre’s new artificial pitch after not being paid for installing it for over a month.

The company has been forced to lay off almost a third of their staff after the contractor who hired them – A P Thompson Sports Engineering Limited – fell into administration on September 27.

However, tempers reached boiling point when Mr Downs approached Morgan Sindall, the company in charge of the whole project, for compensation and was refused.

Mogan Sindall told the Echo last week they could not get involved.

Storming the site with a pneumatic drill, he dug up the concrete base of the goal posts, and ripped out the kerbs stones surrounding the pitch.

Mr Downs said: “There is absolute no excuse for this. Those materials are mine, I bought and paid for them, and as long as we haven’t been paid for the work we carried out it makes it harder for us to buy new materials for our next jobs.

“The situation has come at a huge cost to us, especially having to let staff go, and we just want what’s owed to us.”

Castle Point Council is splashing out millions to revitalise the seventies-built leisure centre, off Somnes Avenue, Canvey, in a bid to keep it open for another 20 years.

The council announced last month it would have to spend an additional £1million to install a new roof over the swimming pool, pushing back the completion date for the project by three months to August 2013.

The renovation will include a new open-plan glass entrance, extensive interior redecoration, redesigned changing rooms, and a new community and conference hall.

A spokesman from Castle Point Council said: "This is a matter for the Council’s contractor Morgan Sindall to resolve. Council officers have visited Waterside Farm, Morgan Sindall are dealing with the contractor.

"It is unfortunate that any damage caused by the contractor digging up the work to the sports pitch will delay the opening of the all weather sports pitch."

Comments (19)

9:44am Tue 30 Oct 12

Red Hand Gang says...

In the meanwhile, no-one gets to play football!
In the meanwhile, no-one gets to play football! Red Hand Gang

9:55am Tue 30 Oct 12

PJR-121 says...

He stormed in and dug it up....

Or was it his two workers in the picture?
He stormed in and dug it up.... Or was it his two workers in the picture? PJR-121

10:13am Tue 30 Oct 12

BASILBRUSH says...

So he didn't rip the pitch up then? Just kurb stones and goal posts?
So he didn't rip the pitch up then? Just kurb stones and goal posts? BASILBRUSH

11:59am Tue 30 Oct 12

Eric Whim says...

George Davis is innocent
George Davis is innocent Eric Whim

12:28pm Tue 30 Oct 12

Eric Whim says...

Eric Whim wrote:
George Davis is innocent
oops wrong millenium.....
[quote][p][bold]Eric Whim[/bold] wrote: George Davis is innocent[/p][/quote]oops wrong millenium..... Eric Whim

12:44pm Tue 30 Oct 12

John T Pharro says...

Mr Downs just what has this achieved? You had a lot of people's sympathy to start with, but that will now disappear.
Bit mute that the kerbs will get some cost back as you have to pay your staff to rip them up.
Mr Downs just what has this achieved? You had a lot of people's sympathy to start with, but that will now disappear. Bit mute that the kerbs will get some cost back as you have to pay your staff to rip them up. John T Pharro

1:20pm Tue 30 Oct 12

Lucylu26 says...

Being married to someone who is self employed, I completely condone this action as time after time these small companies are left without a penny by some people. If he isnt going to get any money for completing the work, and has lost men as a result, why should they get to keep the work he has done free of charge? The council would still be benefitting from charging the public to use the pitch, so he should be reimbursed.
Being married to someone who is self employed, I completely condone this action as time after time these small companies are left without a penny by some people. If he isnt going to get any money for completing the work, and has lost men as a result, why should they get to keep the work he has done free of charge? The council would still be benefitting from charging the public to use the pitch, so he should be reimbursed. Lucylu26

1:21pm Tue 30 Oct 12

nicknows says...

Bravo!!! If more businesses took direct action in this way p[eople might think twice about 'knocking' them for the money owed. He after all does own the goods as they have not been paid for.
Bravo!!! If more businesses took direct action in this way p[eople might think twice about 'knocking' them for the money owed. He after all does own the goods as they have not been paid for. nicknows

3:10pm Tue 30 Oct 12

APR says...

Can't really blame the bloke. A lot of people would like to do that with dodgy customers.
Can't really blame the bloke. A lot of people would like to do that with dodgy customers. APR

4:08pm Tue 30 Oct 12

Hugh.Janus says...

What a pathetic vindictive little man. What he has done now means someone else at extra cost to you and me, now has to put matters right before anyone can use the facilities. I wonder what he thinks he is going to use the kerb stones and foundations for now that he has dug them up.
It is difficult now having seen this article for any prospective employer to consider employing this little man to do a job for them, can you imagine employing him when you are on a tight budget.
What a pathetic vindictive little man. What he has done now means someone else at extra cost to you and me, now has to put matters right before anyone can use the facilities. I wonder what he thinks he is going to use the kerb stones and foundations for now that he has dug them up. It is difficult now having seen this article for any prospective employer to consider employing this little man to do a job for them, can you imagine employing him when you are on a tight budget. Hugh.Janus

5:18pm Tue 30 Oct 12

Diannah says...

Just checked this company out and noticed the director of the failing AP Thompson Sports Engineering LTD started AP Thompson Sports Scotland Ltd just three months ago. Can somebody in the know explain how they get away with doing this.
Just checked this company out and noticed the director of the failing AP Thompson Sports Engineering LTD started AP Thompson Sports Scotland Ltd just three months ago. Can somebody in the know explain how they get away with doing this. Diannah

5:39pm Tue 30 Oct 12

John T Pharro says...

Diannah wrote:
Just checked this company out and noticed the director of the failing AP Thompson Sports Engineering LTD started AP Thompson Sports Scotland Ltd just three months ago. Can somebody in the know explain how they get away with doing this.
It is just like double glazing companies isn't it?
How do you stop it by banning anyone who has put a company into liquidation not be allowed to open another limited liability company for at least say 5 years.
[quote][p][bold]Diannah[/bold] wrote: Just checked this company out and noticed the director of the failing AP Thompson Sports Engineering LTD started AP Thompson Sports Scotland Ltd just three months ago. Can somebody in the know explain how they get away with doing this.[/p][/quote]It is just like double glazing companies isn't it? How do you stop it by banning anyone who has put a company into liquidation not be allowed to open another limited liability company for at least say 5 years. John T Pharro

5:54pm Tue 30 Oct 12

Diannah says...

I think you are right, John. Something should be done to stop them.
I think you are right, John. Something should be done to stop them. Diannah

6:15pm Tue 30 Oct 12

EssexPerson says...

Whilst I get his frustration, exactly what has this achieved?
And I'm confused by the laying off of a third of his staff over a £12K contract, bit far fetch imo
I'm pretty sure a better cheaper outcome for him (and the tax payer) could have been achieved through the courts.
No sympathy now.
Whilst I get his frustration, exactly what has this achieved? And I'm confused by the laying off of a third of his staff over a £12K contract, bit far fetch imo I'm pretty sure a better cheaper outcome for him (and the tax payer) could have been achieved through the courts. No sympathy now. EssexPerson

6:26pm Tue 30 Oct 12

streetboy75 says...

his out of pocket, but his now riping up the pitch and waisting more money paying guys to do this, haha he must have loads of money then to do this, cant be that much out of pocket, lol
his out of pocket, but his now riping up the pitch and waisting more money paying guys to do this, haha he must have loads of money then to do this, cant be that much out of pocket, lol streetboy75

6:39pm Tue 30 Oct 12

Seasider90 says...

Its all too easy for companies to go bust and then set up under a different name with the same Directors employed. I know of a company who went bust with huge debts and they are now trading again with the same Director in charge but under a different company name.
Its all too easy for companies to go bust and then set up under a different name with the same Directors employed. I know of a company who went bust with huge debts and they are now trading again with the same Director in charge but under a different company name. Seasider90

10:58pm Tue 30 Oct 12

Nebs says...

Good for you. Direct action is the only way, as the law seems to let people off their debts too easily.
Good for you. Direct action is the only way, as the law seems to let people off their debts too easily. Nebs

9:54am Wed 31 Oct 12

upset says...

Hugh.Janus wrote:
What a pathetic vindictive little man. What he has done now means someone else at extra cost to you and me, now has to put matters right before anyone can use the facilities. I wonder what he thinks he is going to use the kerb stones and foundations for now that he has dug them up.
It is difficult now having seen this article for any prospective employer to consider employing this little man to do a job for them, can you imagine employing him when you are on a tight budget.
Who are you talking about, I hope it is the CEO of the company that closed after 3 months and ripping off someone who is trying to make a living whilst employing local people?

If not it's you that is pathetic little man!!
[quote][p][bold]Hugh.Janus[/bold] wrote: What a pathetic vindictive little man. What he has done now means someone else at extra cost to you and me, now has to put matters right before anyone can use the facilities. I wonder what he thinks he is going to use the kerb stones and foundations for now that he has dug them up. It is difficult now having seen this article for any prospective employer to consider employing this little man to do a job for them, can you imagine employing him when you are on a tight budget.[/p][/quote]Who are you talking about, I hope it is the CEO of the company that closed after 3 months and ripping off someone who is trying to make a living whilst employing local people? If not it's you that is pathetic little man!! upset

3:10pm Wed 31 Oct 12

colsmith says...

Reading through the comments, it is fairly clear which of you have ever run a business and have ever experienced being "stung" for money. It is no good at all waiting for the outcome being decided by Administrators as their only goal is to receive as much money as possible from debtors in order to satisfy their huge, greedy bill. As regards what Mr. Down's actions have achieved, perhaps you should ask the Local Authority who no doubt took the lowest estimate and s*d the consequences..... I concur with him and have replicated his actions in the past just to prove a point. The system is AGAINST the honest man in this country regarding situations like this
and good luck to him. Well done..!! All you do gooders and liberals please wander off to locate the nearest taxidermist ....
Reading through the comments, it is fairly clear which of you have ever run a business and have ever experienced being "stung" for money. It is no good at all waiting for the outcome being decided by Administrators as their only goal is to receive as much money as possible from debtors in order to satisfy their huge, greedy bill. As regards what Mr. Down's actions have achieved, perhaps you should ask the Local Authority who no doubt took the lowest estimate and s*d the consequences..... I concur with him and have replicated his actions in the past just to prove a point. The system is AGAINST the honest man in this country regarding situations like this and good luck to him. Well done..!! All you do gooders and liberals please wander off to locate the nearest taxidermist .... colsmith

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