The weakest link - Tories in the dark over guided busway track problems (Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats)

Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats <info@cambslibdems.org.uk>

The weakest link - Tories in the dark over guided busway track problems

May 26, 2010 11:26 AM

Kilian Bourke

Cambridgeshire Tories are in the dark as to the severity of the problems with part of the guided bus track.

They have been accused of playing down the seriousness of the issue without having the full facts.

The attack comes from the county's Liberal Democrats following news that the Tories do not have all the necessary calculations and information relating to expansion gaps on the guideway beams.

Some of the beam expansion gaps have been found to be too wide and others are too narrow to allow them to expand in the heat. There are fears that the foundations could move slightly and also fears that the metal brackets and bolts may not be robust enough to cope with such movement. If such a situation were to arise, the weakest link in this chain would give.

Council officers sought to reassure the public concerning the beams, saying "there is very little chance of the beams exploding up in the air" and the problem was "probably not catastrophic".

At the same time, officers have confirmed that the contractor BAM Nuttall has shown no sign of carrying out the outstanding work.

Lib Dem group leader Fiona Whelan said: "It is absurd that the council still does not have the full facts about these beams and until it does, it should not be seeking to play down the seriousness of these defects.

"They are in the dark and yet they are seeking to reassure the public. This whole situation goes from bad to worse."

Lib Dem highways spokesperson Kilian Bourke added: "It is obviously not acceptable that there should be any 'weakest link' if it puts the public at risk. But what is most shameful is that the real weakest links, the Conservative politicians, are hiding behind council officials and hanging them out to dry.

"It is Councillor Roy Pegram and the Conservatives who are ultimately accountable for this mess, and it is they who should be doing the explaining. It seems the only way this will happen is if there is a full public inquiry, with a team of independent experts."