A response to a statement regarding legal action against PD Ports

A response to a statement in the local media by South Tees Development Corporation regarding legal action initiated against PD Ports

Following a recent statement in the local media from a spokesman on behalf of the South Tees Development Corporation relating to the legal action initiated by the South Tees Development Corporation and South Tees Developments Limited against PD Teesport, PD Ports would like to make clear the following:

• The legal action seeking a declaration that access rights do not exist has been initiated by the South Tees Development Corporation and South Tees Developments Limited.
• Any costs to the taxpayer of these legal proceedings are a result of the actions which the South Tees Development Corporation and South Tees Developments Limited have decided to take.
• Prior to the public bodies choosing to initiate the legal action, PD Ports had offered nil cost solutions to the South Tees Development Corporation to help address the Development Corporation’s title problems and the access constraints to its land.
• The statement in the local media by a spokesman for the South Tees Development Corporation incorrectly claimed, “it’s worth noting PD Ports have sought to prolong court proceedings and delay the trial which we tried to bring to a swift conclusion.” This statement is incorrect.

The Trial was originally listed for 10 days. The pre-trial review took place on 16^th December 2022.

At this review the Judge, South Tees Development Corporation and PD Teesport all raised the issue of whether all the evidence could be heard within the 10-day allocation. The Judge concluded it could not and suggested a relisting at a later date for what may be a 20-day trial whenever the Court had availability.

Teesworks and South Tees Development Corporation applied for an expedited trial. Contrary to the inaccurate statement in the media by a spokesman for the South Tees Development Corporation, this was not opposed by PD Ports.

The Trial has been relisted for October 2023. With the Trial period being extended to 20 days the costs are likely to increase substantially.

We have already made it clear to South Tees Development Corporation and Teesworks that if they would like to discuss matters then we are happy to do so in the hope of ending this unnecessary and costly litigation.