Councillors told major road scheme could go more than £5m over budget

WAKEFIELD COUNCIL leader Peter Box has defended a major road scheme after it emerged the project could go over budget by more than £5m.

Councillors were told the decision to bring forward the project earlier than expected, ground conditions and changes to a bridge design had contributed to a rise in the cost of the Wakefield Eastern Relief Road.

Network Rail’s decision to demand £1m for access to its land as part of the construction also added further costs.

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority originally allocated £32m to pay for the scheme.

But members of the authority’s investment committee heard the project could now cost £37.6m, although discussions are continuing with the contractor, Network Rail and Wakefield Council.

Coun Box, who is also chairman of the combined authority’s investment committee, told the meeting: “It is going to create thousands of jobs, it is going to create over 2,000 new houses and it has already had a huge impact on air quality.”

He added: “Of course any lessons from this that need to be learned will be.”

The meeting also saw the committee approve £9m to support the development of a range of infrastructure schemes.

Councillors agreed to spend £570,000 to draw up detailed proposals to improve congestion at Ainley top and £317,000 to develop a scheme for improvements at Castleford station.

They also approved £4m should be contributed towards the cost of a project to use heat generated by the Aire Valley waste centre to heat local buildings.