Teesside body is facing a potential £4 million legal bill after losing a case involving access rights. Tees Valley mayor, Lord Houchen, and his partners attempted to extract a ransom payment from PD Teesport, leading to the costly legal battle. The public is now burdened with the financial consequences of the failed litigation, with taxpayers' money wasted on the court battle. Critics, including MPs, have condemned the mayor's actions as wasteful and irresponsible, highlighting the impact on the community.
Responsibility for the waste of millions and millions of taxpayers’ money on this scandalous, reckless and failed shake down rests entirely with Lord Houchen of High Leven. Tees Valley needs a mayor it can trust. https://t.co/lM3ZYclVha
Totally foolish & unnecessary litigation. It’s not just the legal costs of PD. The costs of STDC are borne by the public. They maybe higher than PD’s. Then there’s Teesworks costs. They have been completely funded by the public purse. Appalling & reckless decision making. https://t.co/lPIjcpP5H8
My thoughts on Lord Houchen’s tawdry endeavour trying to shake down PD Ports and losing to the tune of millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money. 👇 https://t.co/jK7f55u99A
TEESSIDE FREEPORT Taxpayers (either local councils or the rest of us) are now outrageously on the hook for £4m legal bill after @benhouchen & STDC believed they "could extract a ransom payment from PD Teesport" for access rights (words of the Judge) across the controversial…
Tees Tory Mayor Houchen has wasted £4million of taxpayers money fighting a court battle he was always going to lose. £4m could have gone a long way in our community. What would you do to help local people with that money. He has blocked me but you can message him @benhouchen
So the attempted shake down of one of the biggest private sector players in the Tees Valley has not only spectacularly failed but has come crashing down around the ears of Lord Houchen and his chosen partners. Yet it’s the public that's going to pick up the bill… again. https://t.co/srSTt7TFaC
What happened when the Tees Valley mayor took on the port next door - this was quite the ride yesterday and it was just the costs hearing. Free to read https://t.co/rcOcFuY6tB
Teesside body faces potential £4mn legal bill after losing access case https://t.co/PKtazT2sJr