A COMMUNITY interest company (CIC) in St Blazey is to be liquidated after being wound up for debts totalling around £300,000.

St Blazey Recycle Reuse CIC, which was founded by Cornwall councillor Pauline Giles and her partner David Taylor in 2018, had been accused of occupying commercial premises without paying rent between March 2020 and July 2024.

Litigation firm Helix Law, which was acting for the landlord, said it had brought the proceedings against the CIC following more than four years of alleged non-payment of rent.

Ms Giles, who was forced to resign from the Conservative party in November over comments she made about “young black males flooding our country”, was brought before a winding-up order in Bristol yesterday (Tuesday, February 3).

The court ruled in the landlord's favour meaning the CIC will be placed in to liquidation. The law firm will now be focused on trying to recoup the debt its client is owed.

St Blazey Recycle Reuse Resale, which was based at Westgate Business Park, aimed to sell secondhand goods at low prices through a recycling warehouse.

The company was set up as a way of helping people on low incomes and act as a platform for distributing unwanted items to those in need.

Confirmation of the shop’s closure was published on the company’s Facebook page which read: “It is with regret that our shop is now permanently closed. Thank you to all who support us.”

When Cllr Giles was approached for comment by the Voice, she said: "Sorry, we cannot comment at this time, a statement will be released in the near future.”