Armada Way legal bill 'has cost thousands'

BUT CAMPAIGNERS SAY COSTS RAISED BY COUNCIL REBUTTAL

- WILLIAM TELFORD

PLYMOUTH City Council leader Tudor Evans says legal challenges related to the £30m redevelopment of Armada Way have cost taxpayers "thousands of pounds".

But campaigners who brought the action pointed out that the authority could have reduced their liability had they conceded over the initial judicial review, which they called 'defending the indefensible! Cllr Evans welcomed a High Court judge's dismissal of a contempt of court action brought by founder of action group Save the Trees of Armada Way (Straw), Ali White.

It has not been revealed how much the legal bill is for the council, but Straw has claimed the authority put its costs at £82,000 for the contempt action and that was just up until last month's preliminary hearing. The judge did not make an order for costs, however, which means each side will pay their own costs.

Straw has said its legal bill for the contempt action was "significantly" less than the council's.

In March, the council was ordered to pay £35,000 towards Straw's legal costs for a judicial review into whether the council acted unlawfully when it ordered destruction of 129 trees which was dismissed.