‘Live-in’ hotel staff must move as firm collapses
ANUMBER of ‘live-in’ staff at the now-defunct Shearings Hotels chain have been given just a few weeks to find new accommodation after being made redundant, staff have claimed.
In a letter seen by Western Morning News sister website DevonLive, which was sent out on Saturday, staff “that have live-in arrangements at the hotel” have 28 days to find alternative accommodation.
One member of staff, who wished to remain anonymous, said some employees have lived on-site for more than 20 years and felt they would struggle to find alternative accommodation at such short notice during the coronavirus pandemic.
Specialist Leisure Group (SLG), which owned Shearings and several other businesses, collapsed into administration on Friday causing a suspected 2,500 job losses.
“Some have lived in for 20-plus years and all have to move out within 28 days, during this pandemic,” said the anonymous staff member.
The group operated two hotel chains which have a number of venues across the South West.
Seven hotels in Devon and four in Cornwall have been affected, and it has been confirmed that they will not reopen.
Of those that have ceased to trade, nine are Bay Hotels and two are Coast and Country Hotels, both of which were owned and operated by the firm.
Two of the biggest hotels in the Bay, The Torbay Hotel and Esplanade, are among the venues set to close. The letter sent to employees says: “Unfortunately, and as you now may be aware, as a result of your employment ending you are not permitted to remain in the accommodation.
“Given the difficult circumstances and in light of the current impacts of Covid-19, for those of you that have live-in arrangements at the hotel, the following has been agreed: the provision of an additional period of 28 days in order to allow you time to make alternative accommodation arrangements, no rent, fees or charges payable for this 28 day period, and this interim arrangement will expire on 19 June 2020.”
Travel trade organisation Abta said more than 64,000 bookings have been cancelled as a result of the collapse. It added that the vast majority were coach package holidays which are financially protected so customers with these bookings will receive a full refund. Bespoke Hotels have been contacted for comment.
A LAND-owning couple have shared their heartbreak after vandals broke onto their plot and beat to death 16 chickens and ducks.
Sarahjane Armstrong and husband David also had hundreds of pounds worth of tools taken from their land at Treskerby in Scorrier near Redruth.
Sarahjane and David are especially distraught given their close bonds with the birds and say that it can’t have been local wildlife that killed them as an electric fence was in place to protect their birds.
They believe the crime may be linked to teenagers who gather in the nearby woods.
Sarahjane said: “There’s a group of boys who go up the woods and cause havoc. We live next to the woods and David is always going down and putting out fires.
“A couple of years ago a group broke in and caused damage and took £400 worth of tools, running off with the stuff.”
Regarding the most recent incident on Friday night, Sarahjane added: “Neither us or the dogs heard a thing. Our friends turned up to sort their horse which is kept here and their eight-year-old granddaughter ran up saying there was a dead chicken.
“It’s a beautiful area and we have an electric fence so dogs and foxes can’t get in. David went down to see what had gone on and found all but two of them dead. We’re distraught. When we were eventually able to bury them we had a good look and saw that the birds didn’t have a mark on them or blood but some chickens had broken wings and the duck a broken leg.
“The electric wire had been turned off. We think they stole our golf clubs and went into the shed and beat the chickens and duck with them. Some of the birds died of fright.” Anybody with information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting CR/040886/20.
‘Some have lived in for 20-plus years and all have to move out within 28 days’