Busway may not open until September

The scheme to link the two towns should have opened this month, but construction delays caused by bad weather mean the launch is now likely to take place “between mid-August and early September”.

The scheme is currently £500,000 over budget, says Luton Borough Council, which is also struggling to find the £5 million it needs to contribute to the mostly government-funded project.

A spokesman said: “A legal agreement signed by Luton Borough and Central Bedfordshire councils provides for joint working, cost sharing and joint ownership of the busway.

“This means that the local contribution is equally split with each council having to provide £5.15million.

“Luton has already secured £2.4million towards its local contribution and the funding gap for Luton is therefore £2.75million. This originally was intended to come from a Section 106 agreement linked to Napier Park but now seems unlikely.Both councils continue to seek funding contributions from third parties towards the project.”

Contractor BAM Nuttall also built the Cambridge guided busway, which opened in 2011, two and a half years late. The firm and Cambridge County Council are now caught up in a legal battle, itself costing millions, with each party suing the other over delays and cost overruns on the project.

Councillor Dave Taylor, responsible for transport at Luton Council, said the scheme would bring huge benefits once completed.

“The busway will dramatically improve bus journey times and tackle congestion across Luton and Dunstable,” he said.

“It offers an unrivalled opportunity to change people’s travel to work habits and, with business growth key to our future prosperity, also forms a key part of our regeneration by helping to join up residential areas with employment, education, healthcare, leisure and retail facilities. We are confident when complete that the benefits of the busway will be keenly felt.”

We revealed last year that bus companies would not be investing in special buses, but would instead attach extra wheels to existing vehicles to guide them along.