Councillors spa visit is delayed

Costs could still rocket above the £35m worst case scenario

A visit by Conservative councillors to the city's troubled £35m spa project has been delayed.

The councillors - who are part of a hung administration - were to inspect the site but were told the visit was being postponed on Tuesday.

They were informed the decision was made because of health and safety.

The development is behind schedule and councillors say they want to inspect the site in order to tell the city's taxpayers what is going on.

Councillor Mike Ringham said: "We were due to go in today after lobbying for about a month.

"We were given three dates to go in and they've all been postponed now.

"People want to know what the blazes is going on."

Dutch contractor

A spokeswoman for Bath and North East Somerset Council said the visits had been rescheduled for the end of the month.

She said the tours had been delayed because of fears visitors to the site may create dust which would interfere with paint being applied to the Baths.

Earlier this month a report into the project warned a completion date was as far off as ever.

The spa should have opened in 2002 but has been plagued by problems, including a row over peeling paint in the pools of the multi-million pound centre.

In April, Dutch contractor Bovitec was brought in to replace the paintwork.

The job is due to be completed in August with an estimated autumn opening.

But the report warned any estimates about completion dates should be treated with "the utmost caution".

It also said possible costs could rise beyond the £35m figure for the "worst case scenario".