But taxpayers will still have to shoulder a £68m burden facing six of the seven local authorities – South Tyneside, Newcastle, Sunderland, Gateshead, Northumberland and Durham – who are collectively known as LA7 and own 51% of the operation.
Shame - But these same councils/taxpayers were only too happy to take money from the sale of 49%, the dividends paid just about every year since the shares were given to them and the eventual full payment taken from the airport refinancing!! Councillors from these councils were on the renumeration committee who gave JP over £7M!!
The money boom years were just that a 'boom' and have gone - taxpayers/councils from all these area's have taken much much more from the airport over the years!!