Dublin People - Plaza plunged into chaos

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Plaza plunged into chaos

Thursday, 24 April 2008

THERE was chaos in Ballymun last week when the Plaza Hotel on Main Street was shut down without notice and guests and staff were told to leave.
Staff at the hotel, many of whom were local, were left jobless after the dramatic series of events which unfolded on Friday morning (April 18).
Stunned staff and guests were left high and dry as BBT Development Ltd, the company that owns the hotel, sent in a team of workers and announced it was taking control of the premises.
Staff were handed a letter informing them that the hotel had been repossessed and asking them “to leave the premises without delay.”
BBT Development Ltd is claiming that the hotel operator had failed to pay the lease for 18 months.

Head porter Sean Corcoran described last Friday’s chaos.
“At 11am, two men walked into the hotel, shut the doors and announced that the hotel was being closed as the operator had not paid its lease for 18 months,” he told Northside People.
“We were shocked. It was the first we heard of it. Like the rest of us, the guests were told to pack up and leave.”
It is understood that almost 30 rooms were occupied at the time with 43 more due to be occupied that evening.
The hotel employed a staff of 46 at the time of its closure.
Almost 40 of those were believed to be from the local area.
“This is a huge blow to the area,” the porter continued.
“At the drop of a hat, we were basically told that we were unemployed and that we should sign-on.”
Local councillor Andrew Montague (Lab) said he was unaware that the hotel had run into difficulties.
“The closure really came out of the blue,” he told Northside People.
“But I guess something was definitely going on behind the scenes.
“We hope that negotiations with another operator will work out and that staff will get their jobs back when someone else takes over the premises.”
Many locals were forced to cancel plans or find alternative venues for events which were booked for the weekend.
According to Mr Corcoran, the hotel had taken bookings to hold dozens of christenings, confirmations and parties for the coming weeks and months.
Staff member Thomas Metcalfe (20) explained how he is now faced with serious financial difficulties as a result of the closure.
“How will I be able to provide for a four-month-old baby?” he asked.
“I have outgoings with a car and loans to try to pay as well.
“We don’t even know if we will get paid for the weeks we worked.
“It’s really hard to believe that we could be out of a job so suddenly.”
A spokesperson for BBT Developments Ltd confirmed the closure was due to a dispute with the operator.
“We put in place a temporary management team at the hotel to ensure an orderly closure,” it was stated.
“BBT Developments has been a key partner with Ballymun Regeneration in the redevelopment of the area. BBT remains committed to Ballymun and once the current dispute is resolved, it will renew its commitment to the area.”
The company revealed that it would be taking legal proceedings against the operator to recover what it claimed were “considerable outstanding rents”.
Management of the operating firm could not be contacted at time of going to press.

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