Link road builder must avoid delays

Dear Sir,

I note that at last, subject to approval of the full business case by the department for transport, the building of Congleton Link Road is due to start this autumn.

I also note that the preferred tender will be decided on price and how it intends to approach the construction works.

In all eventuality, this means the lowest bidder will gain the project.

Taking previous construction projects into account, I suspect that the company that takes overall responsibility for building the road will pay scant regard to the inconvenience caused to road users during the construction period.

It is imperative that the contract includes damaging penalty clauses for avoidable delays to motorists and other road users during this period.

It is only by providing incentives to consider how to minimise inconvenience while building this necessary link road that the people of Congleton will agree that it is a worthwhile venture.

Yours faithfully,

Dr Peter Hirst

Middlewich.