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Brief History of Ballachrink Farm. My parents, Doug & Barbara Hyslop bought the farm comprising approximately 45 acres in 1957. David Hyslop (myself) was born in 1961 and worked on farm from a young age, leaving school 1977 to work full time on farm.
In approximately 1970, Braaid Wholesale Co Ltd (BWCL) was established as a frozen food Wholesale business, which operated from fridge/freezers that were built in existing buildings at Ballachrink Farm. Frozen foods were delivered and distributed from the farm for the next 20+ years.
My parents retired in 1993 and the farming business was incorporated into BWCL. The business expanded into agricultural contracting and diggerwork. In 2002 dairy farming ceased at Ballachrink Farm and general contracting became more important as a source of employment for the then 3 full time workers. As a lot of work was seasonal, other jobs & repairs etc had to be taken on to provide work through the winter months. These could be anything from groundwork to landscape maintenance. Repairs to machinery were also often done during the winter and at times a specialist mechanic would be needed and this is how the business developed. BWCL nowadays still runs the farming side of the business, approximately 170 beef cattle and operates a smaller contracting service, employing myself full time with additional casual workers as required.
The building subject to this planning application was built in approximately 1993 for general purpose agriculture use and over the years it has been used for many different purposes, grain storage at harvest, machinery storage, cattle shed in winter, hay & straw barn etc. Since dairy farming ceased at the end of 2002 it has been mainly used for storage of machinery and a workshop in association the agricultural contracting and digger work done by Braaid Wholesale Co Ltd. (BWCL). This is trading name used for all my farming and contracting work since 1991.
Approximately 10-12 years ago a mechanic, Mr Steven Hammer worked from the building, doing work/repairs for BWCL, himself and occasionally for BWCL contracting customers. Around 2010 a different mechanic started working for BWCL, Mr Darren Haigh and at the time he was working under a self-employed work permit so again he did some jobs for himself and some for BWCL. In early 2013 it was decided that financial clarity was needed for the workshop/repairs side of the business and it was separated from BWCL. Manx Agri Plant Services Ltd set up and incorporated in May 2013 as a stand-alone company to repair and maintain mainly agricultural and plant machinery for BWCL and others. Mr Darren Haigh & Myself were the 2 directors and shareholders and the business continued to be operated from the building subject to this planning application. Due to his employment/work permit status needs, Darren decided that this arrangement didn't suit him and resigned approximately 12-15 months later. Shortly after
a new mechanic/business partner, director and shareholder Mr James Langdon-Banks became involved. Since then the business has gradually moved forward and a loyal customer base has been established. It has over the last 5 had at various times employed a second mechanic, to provide customer cover if James is away, order parts etc. More recently in September 2018 a full time apprentice agricultural engineer has been employed through the government registered training scheme (Mr Lee Quayle). Lee attends a UK training college for 4 weeks intensive training every term and works with ourselves full time in between. This training will carry on for 3 years then hopefully he will be retained as a full time-served agricultural engineer by Manx Agri Plant Services Ltd.
Present Use of Building
Various classes of machinery are serviced and repaired within the building from agricultural tractors and machinery, telehandlers, plant equipment, farm quads etc. A lot of service and repairs are done at customer premises but larger jobs, rebuilds and overhauls are done in the workshop were specialist tools and equipment are at hand. The workshop building provides a cleaner, safer and more pleasant environment than many customers farmyards to carry out the work on machines that are ever more complex to repair due to the increasing sophistication and use of electronics in their make up.
Some days, both mechanics will be working all day off farm and this could be any part of the island where as other days could be spent all day in the workshop. Delivery of parts etc are made as necessary by either post van or courier, some of these parts are collected by customers for themselves to fit, others are delivered and fitted by ourselves either in the workshop or at the Client's premises.
Manx Agri Plant Services Ltd collaborate with two major companies from the UK: - Cornthwaite Agricultural based in Ormskirk, Lancaster and P V Dobson's based in Carlisle, Cumbria. Cornthwaites are John Deere agents for Cheshire, Lancashire, Cumbria, Dumfrishe and Galloway and also the Isle of Man. Dobson's are the manitou telehandler agents for the Isle of Man. Some of the equipment these companies sell to farmers / clients on the island are shipped in crates direct from factory to save on transport/handling costs. This then has to be assembled & inspected pre-delivery on island before final delivery to the customer. Manx Agri Plant Services Ltd carry out this assembly work and are approved servicing agents for both these companies. Another important part of the Manx Agri Plant Services Ltd is agricultural tyre replacements and puncture repairs.
Over the 10-12 years this business has been operating from the current premises and developing, there have been no known complaints or other issues. Manx Agri Plant Services Ltd has become a recognized cog in the general agricultural and plant maintenance wheel of that sector of the Manx economy. The business currently employs two full time members of staff and provides support to many others.
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