£28,000 legal bill could shut iconic music shop

HYNDBURN council said the £28,000 bill has come from their insurers solicitors and not the council.

Councillor Clare Cleary said, “The council has not sent Mr Bowes a bill for £28,000. The bill is from a private firm of solicitors who act for the council’s insurers and therefore I wish to stress it is the council’s insurers claiming this sum, not the council.

“I can confirm that Mr Bowes filed a claim for £50,000 damages against the Council. Due to the nature and size of the claim, the case was referred to the council’s insurers who instructed their own solicitors.

“Mr Bowes legal claim was unsuccessful and the £28,000 bill reflects the legal costs incurred by the insurance company in defending the claim.

“I wish to stress that the litigation was driven by Mr Bowes who had plenty of time and opportunity to drop his claim for damages and therefore avoid such a high bill. Ultimately, Mr Bowes could have avoided this situation.”