Cambridgeshire busway firm hits out at critics

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Contractors BAM Nuttall have said they are "disappointed" with the council's decision

The contractor criticised over alleged defects on a £116m guided busway from St Ives to Cambridge has hit out over early publication of a report.

Cambridgeshire County Council cabinet member for planning Roy Pegram criticised BAM Nuttall after the report blamed the firm for defects.

The scheme was also due to be ready by April 2009 but is not expected to be completed now until November.

BAM Nuttall said it was disappointed the report was not discussed with them.

More work is needed to get the project up to the required standard, Cambridgeshire County Council has said in a report.

The report, criticising BAM Nuttall, will go to council's cabinet on 16 March.

The opening of the £116m guided busway has been delayed

Mr Pegram said he was "incredibly frustrated" by the lack of progress by BAM Nuttall on completing the route.

"BAM Nuttall have been notified there are defects on the busway," said Mr Pegram in a council statement.

"These are defects such as a cycle path that the contractor has built in a drainage ditch so it is unusable for much of the year.

"All we want is BAM Nuttall to be reasonable and finish the scheme as they are contracted to do, to the standards Cambridgeshire residents expect."

'Extensively trialled'

BAM Nuttall said in a statement : "We are very disappointed with the decision from Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC) in making this public without reference to BAM Nuttall Limited (BNL).

"We are not in agreement with many of the statements in the report.

"We have undertaken a great deal of dialogue at senior level to resolve this issue (and) we intend to continue to work with CCC to provide a quality busway for the people of Cambridgeshire.

"In the light of the publication of this document and contrary to our previous decision of not discussing this contract in public, we may find it necessary to issue a fuller statement at some time in the future.

"For the record, the busway was extensively trialled during late summer 2009 where members of the public and local authorities have ridden the whole length of the busway.

"We look forward to this groundbreaking infrastructure being opened to the public."