The County continue to hold the contractor BNL to its obligations under the design and build contract for the guided busway. Unfortunately, this will result in a delay in bringing it into service. The northern section is substantially complete bu t has six significant defects that the county require the contractor to put right before we accept it into service. If we accept it before the defects are sorted out the long term liability is likely to move to the county, which no one wants. A summary of the situation is as follows:
- Key defects need to be rectified
- CCC will not takeover until they are
- BNL are refusing that these items are defects effectively paralysing the process
- CCC can’t terminate the contract on this basis
- Need to continue seeking rectification of these issues
This is very frustrating and likely to end up in expensive legal action against the contractor but is necessary.
Potholes
I have been asked, by one parish, how priorities are set for repairing potholes.
There are two main areas which are considered as part of an assessment of a pothole:
* Firstly, its general location and size and whether it is in an urban or rural setting
* Secondly, where it is on the carriage, i.e. on the edge or in a wheel track
These are placed through the prioritization system and then categorised as an emergency or 7 days etc. according to the counties policy.
This fund has been scrapped. This means we lose the £500m promised but are now free of the threat of congestion charging which has also been scrapped. A new fund which we may qualify for has been set up.
Cycle way now under construction
Test holes a have been dug last week and the first sod cut today. Horningsea to A14 12 weeks.
A14 to existing footpath another 4 weeks. A crossing will be going in at the school and traffic lights on the off ramp on the A14.
Nick Clarke 