Posted on the 18th December 2025 in PHTM News

END OF THE ROAD ST IVES LEFT REELING AS INVALUABLE ACE CARS COLLAPSES

The St Ives community is reeling following the sudden collapse of Ace Cars, a local fixture for 26 years.

While residents mourn the loss of an "invaluable" service, former drivers claim they have been left "thousands out of pocket" after the firm entered voluntary liquidation with almost no warning.

The closure in October has been described by locals as a “huge loss”, but for the staff, the impact was immediate and financial. Drivers reportedly received a text message on a Friday morning stating that the business would shutter the following day.

Richard Morris, a driver of 20 years, described feeling “numb” after the announcement. He claims he is still owed over £2,000 for work completed in September.

“You don't realise how part of a community you are until something like that happens,” Morris said. “A lot of people, it's pulled the rug from underneath their feet.”

Frustration among the workforce is heightened by the belief that the company could have been saved. Staff members suggest that multiple employees were willing to buy the firm to maintain its "viable" operations and protect critical school contracts.

  • Lost Contracts: Once the firm entered bankruptcy, Cornwall Council reclaimed the school accounts—a steady source of income.

  • Management Silence: Morris noted that many staff “have still not spoken to management” regarding the closure or the missing wages.

  • A Preventable Exit: Another staff member expressed disappointment that the business was not offered for sale, stating, “It was certainly viable to buy it... Ace Cars would still be serving the customers.”

In the wake of the collapse, Morris has co-founded Harbour Cars to help fill the void left in the St Ives transport network.

However, the shadow of unpaid wages remains, with some drivers receiving their October pay while others, like Morris, say their September earnings remain missing.


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