Weather woes mean summer opening for busway

The busway, which Luton Borough Council says will “revolutionise” public transport in the town, had been due to open last year.

The progress report – due to go before the council’s scrutiny board last night – said delays had been caused by bad weather affecting the laying of concrete pads and beams.

Other problems have included the discovery of uncharted structures and utility equipment during excavation.

And vandals have targeted equipment and pre-cast concrete beams, which meant site security had to be increased.

One part of the line suffered from flooding due to utilities work going on nearby, something busway constructor BAM is pursuing an insurance claim for.

Last summer the Luton News reported that there was a £5 million hole in the busway’s finances, which the latest report shows is still the case.

Luton Borough Council and Central Beds Council have undertaken to find £9.83 million of the £89 million project, but they have been warned that Section 106 cash from local developers “cannot be assumed guaranteed funding” in the current financial climate.