A new bus-only road constructed between the UWE Frenchay Campus and MOD Abbey Wood is estimated to have cost nearly half a million pounds more than originally planned.
Built by South Gloucestershire Council (SGC), the 1km-long Cheswick Bus Link opened on 17th September and was said at the time to have cost £1.5 million, with £1.2 million of that coming from companies involved in the nearby Cheswick Village housing development.
However, a report presented to a meeting of SGC’s Policy and Resources Committee on Monday (5th November) reveals that the costs of constructing the link are currently estimated to be “up to £420k higher than anticipated”.
According to the report, this is due to unforeseen ground conditions encountered during the construction phase of the scheme, which required additional construction depth and additional costs for the disposal of material. In addition, during the construction it also became clear that a drainage retention facility would be necessary.
Council officers have proposed that the overspend be funded from Section 106 contributions associated with Hortham Village (Almondsbury), another new housing development in the Bristol North Fringe, albeit some six miles from Cheswick.
The Cheswick Bus Link is currently being used by two services, Wessex Red’s number 19 (UWE to Bristol City CEntre via Horfield and Redland) and First Group’s number 70 (UWE to Bristol Temple Meads Station via Ashley Down Road).
Related links:
- Bus timetables (SGC)
- Cheswick Village (The Journal)
Another shocking extravagance with our public money. Doesn’t anyone realise that we are trying to recover from a recession and this just adds to the mountain of national debt.
It seems that Councillors in Almondsbury aren’t too happy about “their” Section 106 money being diverted to Stoke Gifford:
“Raid” on village’s transport funds put on hold (South Glos Post)