Thames Water faces court claim that £3bn bailout is ‘poor, short-term fix’

Campaigners to argue in court of appeal that plan is not in public interest and special administration is best option

Environmental campaigners will challenge the granting of a high-interest 3bn emergency loan to struggling Thames Water at an appeal on Tuesday, arguing the eye-watering" costs for a short-term fix are not in the public interest.

With protests planned outside the court of appeal, Charlie Maynard, a Liberal Democrat MP who represents the campaigners, will argue in a three-day hearing that the public and consumer interest is not served by the debt package, which comes with a bill of almost 1bn in interest payments and financial adviser fees.