Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen, also known as Lord Houchen of High Leven, has been criticized for incurring substantial legal costs estimated around £10 million after a failed court case against PD Ports. The South Tees Development Corporation, led by Houchen, contested PD Ports' rights of access across its land but lost the case. The legal bill for PD Ports alone stands at approximately £4.9 million, with similar costs expected for the South Tees Development Corporation, ultimately burdening taxpayers. Critics have highlighted the 28 recommendations for improvements in decision-making and transparency that were issued last week, suggesting that the legal battle was an avoidable expense. The case has sparked calls for better financial stewardship and collaboration with private sector stakeholders.
In the Commons for point of order about Tees Tory Mayor's latest squandering of millions of taxpayers' money.
I can't for the life of me of me understand why the Tees Tory Mayor squandered millions on this court action when a settlement could have been negotiated: https://t.co/lMldVueMp7
It’s utterly staggering that Lord Houchen of High Leven ever thought this was a good idea. What’s needed is a Tees Valley Mayor who can deliver value for money & work with such major private sector stakeholders in a transparent & collaborative manner - not go to war with them! https://t.co/WSSKm6nPRU
Another week, another damning verdict on Ben Houchen’s South Tees Development Corporation. Millions spent on an ill-conceived dispute against PD Ports, which it lost this morning. Here’s how @PrivateEyeNews covered the case a year ago - https://t.co/AaHnyFyUDq
A judgment has been handed down today in the legal case commenced by the South Tees Development Corporation against PD Ports contending that PD Teesport had no rights of access across the Corporation’s land. Read the full PD Ports statement here: https://t.co/JkkrswHiib
£4.9m seems to be the legal bill of PD Ports. Presumably, the costs of the South Tees Development Corporation are of the same order. If so, it’s the public purse, the taxpayer tipping up for around £10m….FOR WORSE THAN NOTHING!! Presumably, Lord Houchen will blame me. https://t.co/9UT6GYddAw
Mayor @benhouchen has landed the public with a massive legal bill after losing a meaningless court case against the Port Authority over access rights. Last weeks 28 recommendations following failures around decision making, scrutiny and transparency were bad enough - now this! https://t.co/v2G9diq6Aw
WOW TEESSIDE FREEPORT After the appalling review last wk- further investigation needed - in spite of Tory spin! Tory Mayor Ben Houchen has lost a legal case where he tried to deny rights of access to PD Ports. It'll likely cost the taxpayer c £5 million in legal costs! https://t.co/zM8LZujm7Z
For goodness sake!! How much more taxpayers money is going to be wasted by Lord Houchen of High Leven? If costs follow the event here, the taxpayer is going to be footing a bill in the order of what? -Say 10m?? And for what? https://t.co/afKVGneQF1
BREAKING PD Ports have successfully defended their rights of access across the Teesworks site in the High Court. It follows a legal case brought against them by Ben Houchen's South Tees Development Corporation. https://t.co/gsDZlnYuk6