Collapse of dealerships leaves debts running to 'millions'

INCLUDING ONE £125K DEPOSIT

- By WILLIAM TELFORD

MILLIONS of pounds of debt has been left after companies running major Plymouth and and Exeter motorcycle dealerships collapsed into administration. Marsh Holdings Ltd and its subsidiaries ceased trading at the end of 2024 after failing to find £165,000 needed to survive the winter.

Now documents filed at Companies House reveal that unsecured creditors could end up almost £3m out of pocket and if unpaid for shares are taken into account the outstanding debts could hit £3.676m. One person is even in line to lose more than £125,000 paid as a deposit for a motorbike.

Administrators at Westcotts Business Recovery are now trying to sell off the huge Triumph and Harley-Davidson showrooms at Plympton, in Plymouth, for up to £1.9m - which will pay off some of the money owed. But a huge amount is likely to remain unpaid with administrators warning that unsecured creditors of three subsidiary companies are unlikely to receive anything.

The business, and subsidiaries in Plymouth and Southampton, ceased trading in November and appointed administrators the following month. Among their outlets was a Harley-Davidson showroom in Plymouth.

Subsidiaries also in administration include South West Motorcycles Ltd which traded as Triumph Plymouth and operated from Langage Business Park, Plympton; and Marsh Motorcycles Ltd, which traded as Plymouth Harley-Davidson, also at Eagle Road in Plympton, and Southampton HarleyDavidson.