The failure of 11 businesses in ten years is not something which Nigel Whistler, the man behind Southend's proposed £14 million marina development, believes will have an adverse effect on his current project.

The fact that 11 firms, of which he was a director, were all the subject of compulsory winding up orders by the High Court, and the fact they went bust owing hundreds of thousands of pounds to creditors, is simply down to "bad luck", said Mr Whistler.

He said: "I don't think I am the only person who has been a director of a company which has gone into liquidation."

Asked what impression he thought his business background might give, he said: "I am not concerned about it. I would not have liked it to happen but the Official Receiver knows exactly what has been going on."

His current project is a £14 million marina development for Southend seafront.

But he said his firm, the Lewis Harris Partnership, was only putting the deal together, working out budgets and holding initial discussions.

The money behind the scheme was being provided by "wealthy local investors".

He refused to reveal who they were but said they were well aware of his business background.

Mr Whistler has never been disqualified as a director in connection with those business failures.

He said: "The Lewis Harris thing is the future in business as far as I am concerned - to propose schemes with other investors. That way, you know you will be paid.

"When you're contracting yourself it's much more difficult. In the past we tried to undertake too large contracts."

The plans for the marina have already been put to Southend Council's seafront scrutiny committee as a presentation. The project was also a contender for the Shoebury Garrison site at the start of this year but was unsuccessful.

Mr Whistler said he was confident of councillors' support and claimed the firm had received an enthusiastic response.

He said: "We are waiting for the committee to come back to us. We have made a presentation of what we want to do but we won't make full plans until then."

However, committee chairman Howard Briggs (Con, Belfairs) said the presentation by one of Mr Whistler's colleagues at a public meeting a few months ago had consisted of a sheet of A4 paper with a line drawing.

He said: "I cannot say much but at the moment it is just another proposal from a contributor. As far as we are concerned it was not a serious proposal although we did say that if they came up with more details to come back to us.

"I would not want to comment on specific issues but whenever the council deals with outside contractors their past record is taken into account."

Eleven firms, of which Mr Whistler was listed as a director, were the subject of compulsory liquidation orders between 1990 and this year.

Liquidation orders

A compulsory liquidation order is made by the High Court and forces the company to cease trading and close down.

It is made when a creditor - an individual, firm or organisation owed money by the company - issues a winding up petition because it believes the debt will not be met.

The company is given time by the court to meet the debt but if it does not or cannot, the Official Receiver is brought in to value the assets and pay out the proceeds to creditors.

Among the firms connected to Mr Whistler are seven from the Channel group of companies. He told the Echo he believed they went out of business, between 1990 and 1993, owing between £200,000 and £300,000.

Another of his firms was A Lewis & Sons (Construction) which was the subject of a compulsory liquidation order on May 24 this year. A summary of the company's assets at the time, drawn up by the Official Receiver, estimated its debts to be £372,602.

In May 1999 another of his firms, Lewis IT (Contracts) was wound up following a petition from Customs & Excise. In August 1999 A Lewis & Sons (Contracts) was wound up.

By James Taylor

Reporter's e-mail: james.taylor@notes.newsquest.co.uk

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