THE company which runs Basingstoke's indoor ski centre has collapsed in to liquidation putting 27 jobs at risk.

Skiplex Ltd, which runs three centres including on Basingstoke Leisure Park, has been placed into liquidation with business recovery specialist Begbies Traynor appointed as liquidators on Tuesday, July 18.

Begbies Traynor is working with chartered surveyors Eddisons to find a buyer for the sites which are currently closed until a buyer can be found.

The 27 jobs affected are at Skiplex's sites in Basingstoke - based in the same building as the iFLY Indoor Skydiving centre on the Leisure Park complex - and in Reading and Chertsey.

iFLY continues to operate from the site. 

Simon Ward, CEO of iFLY UK, said: “Whilst we are saddened to hear that Skiplex Ltd, a tenant at our Basingstoke site, has gone in to liquidation and our thoughts are with those affected, we would like to make it very clear that iFLY has not been affected in any way.

“iFLY wholly owns the site and is a completely separate business, trading as normal. We are working with the liquidators and, if they are unable to find a buyer or replacement for Skiplex, we will find other entertainment uses for the space."

Begbies Trayor has cited a number of reasons for the collapse of Skiplex Ltd including the seasonal nature of the business, a struggle to find qualified instructors, only three people being able to use its slopes at any one time and a lack of funding.

All of these are cited as leading to the decision to close the business.

Julie Palmer, regional managing partner at Begbies Traynor's Salisbury office, said: "Without a significant increase in revenues, which hadn't looked likely, losses were going to continue, so liquidation became the clearest option.

"One of our immediate tasks as liquidators has been to correspond with 310 people who had earlier bought vouchers or seasonal passes for use at Skiplex.

"If people have done so, they should contact their bank or credit card company and look to claim their money back via chargeback.

"If people have paid cash or have any other concerns, they should contact our Salisbury office."

Anyone seeking to claim money back against vouchers or with other questions should contact Begbies Traynor's on 01722 435190.