FORMER garage owner Mr Glen Henderson, whose luxury car dealerships in
Ayr, Edinburgh, and Glasgow crashed two years ago as a result of his
attempt to build Europe's finest ice-sports venue in Prestwick, has been
ordered to repay more than #4m to the TSB.
Mr Henderson, whose business had a #25m turnover and who sponsored
Scottish athletes Tom McKean and Yvonne Murray, set out to build the
3000-seat Centrum ice and conference centre at Prestwick Toll.
But a series of delays meant the opening was repeatedly put back from
the original date of 1988. Eventually, in November 1990, with the
Centrum still incomplete, bankers to his car firm, Glen Henderson
Motors, called in the receivers -- even though the business which sold
Ferrari, Porsche, Volvo, Saab, and Mercedes cars was trading profitably.
Mr Henderson said at the time: ''It can certainly be said that my
commitment to the Centrum project has been wholly responsible for the
demise of my motor business.''
The TSB, which between 1986 and September 1989 gave him loans for the
Centrum project which he personally guaranteed, raised an action in Ayr
Sheriff Court.
Mr Henderson initially defended the action and a proof hearing was due
to go ahead last week. But, when the case was called, Mr Henderson's
lawyers said he was no longer contesting the action.
Judgment was given to the bank for #4,377,728 together with interest
at 15% from March 20, 1991.
Since the collapse of his car business, Mr Henderson, 60, a former
speed skating champion and motor cycle racer, has been working as sales
manager of Caledonian Mercedes which took over his Mercedes dealership
at Ayr.
The future of the almost completed Centrum is still not clear.
Receiver Mr Frank Blin, of accountants Cork Gully, was not available at
his Glasgow office yesterday.
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