A walkway connecting the university campus to a ferry stop now costs £10M. The project faced delays and budget overruns.
Initially, the path was to cost £2.5 million. Problems increased the price to £9.7 million. That equates to £24,000 per meter. Councillors learned of the cost on February 6th.
Adam Crowther spoke about improving access. He stated that Temple Meads station has long been a barrier. The eastern entrance helps with access to the station, but it doesn’t provide a through route though.
The Harbour Walkway provides a through-route. Pedestrians and cyclists can access the city center. The benefits will grow with local developments. New buildings are planned in the area too.
The university campus is being built. Offices and flats are planned for Temple Island. This is where the arena was first planned. New flats will also be built along Bath Road. New residents will strain the transport network.
The council used money from the campus land sale. They sold the land to the university. Royal Mail previously used the site. As part of the sale, the council promised the walkway.
Crowther admitted there were many issues with the plans and said lessons must be learned. Auditors found problems managing contractor deals. Budget cuts reduced project oversight.
The pandemic and inflation increased costs. A severe storm caused a harbour wall collapse. The council owned the collapsed riverbank section. Therefore, taxpayers had to pay for repairs.
A dredging company collapsed, causing another delay. This company was hired to clear the riverbed. Difficult site access increased costs too. Progress has happened recently.
Columns are now in place for the pontoons. The pontoons are being built in Spain. They will soon be shipped across.
Councillor Coombes expressed his horror that the contract costs spiraled out of control. He mentioned a tiny river wall strip that’s not big enough for a path but is a liability. He also feels the university got an incredible deal.