At the Court of Appeal on Friday, lawyers for Thames Water Utilities Holdings Ltd (TWUH), the parent company of Thames Water Group, asked for a fast-track appeal to be heard on Monday, March 3.
Mr de Mestre told the court on Friday that there is a ”liquidity runway”, and urged the court to expeditite the appeal hearing to avoid the rescue plan falling apart.
A High Court judge ruled earlier this week that the stricken utility could press ahead with an emergency restructuring scheme to save it from imminent financial collapse and a likely special administration rescue by the Government.
He told Mr de Mestre: "It’s not for you to dictate when this court sits", and, visibly annoyed, he added: "We have other business in this court.
Thames Water has been criticised by a senior judge for not "arranging their affairs in proper order" as a date was set for a challenge to the company’s £3 billion bailout plan.
