Blackpool's controversial tramway extension delayed by almost TWO years as list of problems tops 115

Despite 115 defects being spotted during work on the £22.8 million project, which will see trams run between the Prom and the resort's North railway station, the council blamed the delay on failed efforts to demolish the Wilko building in Talbot Road, where the new terminus is set to be built.

The retailer was meant to move to a new home in Tower Street as part of the Houndshill Shopping Centre's extension, which the council promised would be built "well before 2020", even though work has yet to start.

"The original expected finishing date was July 19, 2019," the authority said in a response to a Freedom of Information request. "This was dependent on getting access to the Wilko site to allow construction of the terminus to commence.

"At this present time, the completion of the tramway extension is dependent on Wilko vacating the terminus site, and on the understanding that this is achieved in the next couple of months.

"So, allowing demolition of the existing store, completion of the tramway extension is expected by the end of March 2021."

In February 2018, claims the tramway extension could be delayed by hold-ups on other town centre regeneration schemes were rejected by town hall chiefs, but have now turned out to be true.

Coun Tony Williams warned at the time that "Wilko will not be able to move until at least 2020", and said "that means the tram station will not be built until 2020 and not operational until much later in the year".

But Coun Gillian Campbell, the council's deputy leader, pledged: "As with other major work, we have no doubt that this development will go ahead and be completed well before 2020 with no impact on the plans for the tramway extension."

Wilko's new store was supposed to open last autumn, with the firm saying it was "excited to be part of this fantastic development," which would have created 60 jobs.

Instead, around 40 workers could be laid off when the retail giant's lease ends in mid-April. Hopes remain that Wilko will eventually move into the Houndshill extension when it is finally ready, which the council's regeneration boss Alan Cavill said could be "September or October 2021".

But that depends on the authority winning £5m funding from the Government's Future High Street Fund towards the three-storey development, which also includes a nine-screen "Imax-style" cinema and two restaurants.

Coun Williams, the opposition leader at the town hall, today criticised the council, which bought the Houndshill for £47.6 million in November following months of talks.

He said: "On every deadline this council have promised to meet, they have failed miserably. They need to stop writing cheques their brains can't cash."

In a statement, the council said: "The reasons for the delay have been well documented and reported.

"As with all major projects, there is always a risk of slippage in timescales. In this case, there has been the added complexity of trying to relocate a large store within the original timescale.

"Unfortunately, that has not proved possible.

“We are now a matter of weeks away from being able to move on site to begin demolition of the existing Wilko building and commence the construction of a new tram terminus, underpass to Blackpool North Station and a Holiday Inn Hotel.

“These are developments that will play a vital role in regenerating one of the key gateways to the resort as well as catalysing investor confidence and job creation in the wider town centre."

The tramway extension was approved in 2016. A consultation process elicited 134 responses, with 81 backing the bid and 46 objecting, including taxi drivers.

The council is paying £4.7m towards the project, with central Government putting up the rest of the cash.

Transport chiefs said the scheme will improve connectivity with rail services, encourage the use of public transport, and boost economic growth.

But its detractors say it could lead to traffic jams and is a waste of taxpayers’ cash – with some pointing out the resort doesn’t even have a bus station anymore.

TRADERS VOICED FEARS OVER ROADWORKS LINKED TO 'REMEDIAL WORKS'

Businesses and motorists were badly affected by roadworks caused by defects linked to the tramway extension - and now, for the first time, The Gazette has obtained a list of the faults that led to the misery.

The council said it was unable to give a complete list of "all remediation works" because its deal "requires the contractor to correct any and all defects, whether they are notified by the council or not".

It added: "This can mean that the contractor can rectify his own defects as soon as they occur, and the council is only required to notify defects that have been corrected."

The authority said the contract also means the firm overseeing the extension has to put the problems right at its own cost, so the overall £22.8m cost of the scheme remains the same.

Issues that were raised - with the majority fixed - include boot prints being left in asphalt, standing water, and even a pothole.

Some work had to be re-done because it wasn't carried out properly, documents revealed, including a tram stop near Talbot Square, while the quality of paving was also called into question in places.

One of the Resilience Pathway paving stones, installed as part of an £11m mental health project, has been damaged and not yet been fixed.

And "incorrectly constructed works" led to "vehicle overrun by buses" on the traffic island outside the town hall.

John Sisk and Sons, one of the main contractors, said: "On a project of this scale and complexity, we would expect there to be a number of defects and snags as the project runs.

"The list is approaching two years old and is a rolling list used to track progress and closure. We are working closely with the Council to ensure the works are handed over in line with the specification in 2021."

The Gazette asked the council whether it was satisfied with the overall standard of the work. It said in a statement: “We will continue to manage these works with contractors to ensure that work is carried out with as little disruption as possible and completed to the required standard.”

The authority refused to release "any internal or external documents, such as official reports and correspondence in the form of letters or emails" under the Freedom of Information Act, citing an exemption relating to cost.

Skate shop Big Woody's, which was opposite the Sacred Heart Church near to Talbot Square was forced moved to the Devonshire Road end of the street, much closer to Layton, after the construction derailed trade.

"We, maybe foolishly, stayed in the hope the assurances from the council that the works on the tramway would be finished and the road outside our shop reopened by the end of September," owner Woody said in December 2018.

"This never happened. In fact, the situation went from bad to worse."

He said "utter chaos" meant shoppers could not "negotiate the maze of barriers and blockades to the businesses that have managed to survive this long" and said two workers had to be let go.