LETHAM GRANGE CLOSES DOWN: STAFF

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Letham Grange Hotel, near Arbroath, with two golf courses - closed until further notice (image by Cal Carson Golf Agency).

FROM THE DUNDEE COURIER WEBSITE
By GRAEME BLETCHER and GRAEME STRACHAN
Sacked staff from an Angus golf and country estate have hit out at the way they have been treated following the shock shutdown and are seeking answers from the men at the top.
The Letham Grange Hotel, near Arbroath, and its two 18-hole courses closed with immediate effect last week due to a fresh legal contest over ownership.
A notice posted on the front door of the hotel by Letham Grange directors Neil Rimmer and Paul Rodgers says they hope the legal issues will be resolved but the hotel and the golf courses will remain closed until the litigation is concluded.
It is understood 10 members of staff have lost their jobs. Some have been there for over 13 years. One told The Courier the way they have been treated was "incredibly disappointing."
"On Thursday night I checked my bank balance and found I had been given a random amount of money that was much lower than my usual salary," he said. "On Friday all of the staff were taken into the general manager's office and given the same letter saying that the business was going to cease trading.
"We were not given a P45, no wage slip, no contact details and the general manager refused to give us a personal phone number. Now I don't have anyway of finding out what is going on.
"It is incredibly disappointing that they would treat their staff this way. We got empty promises of a phone call from the general managers to keep us informed but it hasn't happened."
Rumours of closure had been circulating around the business for several years, but Friday's announcement came as a major shock to staff members.
Taiwanese businessman Dong Guang (Peter) Liu has sought to take possession of the property, claiming it is his, and legal proceedings went through all levels of the Scottish courts system and to the House of Lords.
Letham Grange Management Company Ltd was appointed to run the hotel following the outcome of the original liquidators' litigation with Mr Liu in February 2009 and invested £300,000 to modernise it after years of stagnation resulting from the long-running and highly complex legal tussle over ownership.
Refurbishments include upgrading bedrooms, opening a new brasserie and bar, and improving drainage on the Old and Glens golf courses. There is now further litigation and the directors have failed to secure investment to keep trading.
The staff member continued, "I went to Citizens Advice and they told me to write a letter but I have no address or contact details."
Employees are now planning to send letters out via recorded delivery to the company's registered address in Ashburton, Devon, in a bid to get answers.
Those made redundant include kitchen and bar workers and four greenkeepers.
Golfers were told to cease playing and leave the course immediately at around 10am on Friday, with greenkeepers instructed to take in flag poles and other course equipment.
The statement made by directors last week said the action was not taken lightly and results from the contract to operate the hotel being terminated after shareholders stated they were unable to continue to fund the operation.
"It is hoped that ultimately these matters will be resolved," it read. "However, in the meantime the hotel and golf courses will now remain closed until such a time as the litigation is finally concluded."