Frustration as Griffiths quits bypass job

07/03/2024 | STEVE MENARY

Alun Griffiths has walked away from an £89m bypass project at Banwell in North Somerset only a month after the council was cleared to issue compulsory purchase orders and let the contractor on site.

The scheme involves building a 3.3-km section of single carriageway road from the A371 Summer Lane to the A368 Towerhead Road and was originally due to complete in the summer of 2026.

It has been hit by inflation in materials and labour that pushed the price up from £66m to £89.2m.

Homes England agreed to provide £77.3m, with North Somerset Council agreeing last July to contribute £11.9m, but in November Alun Griffiths had agreed to a £56.5m construction contract, only to quit the job.

North Somerset Council leader Mike Bell said: 'Alun Griffiths joined the bypass team in 2021, so it is incredibly frustrating for them to pull out without warning just as they were getting spades in the ground. This is unexpected and unprecedented news and we feel both let down and disappointed, as I’m sure many residents will too.'

Arup is also working for the council, which told Highways it intends to 'get it back in motion as soon as possible'.

The council is in talks with Homes England and said it expects to announce plans to re-procure the job in the coming weeks.

Cllr Bell added: 'Despite challenges created by Griffiths’ decision, I’d like to reassure residents that the council remains committed to the bypass and that we are working closely with partners at Homes England to understand next steps and solutions.

'The Banwell bypass is an important scheme for us and, over the past two years, we have made more progress towards making it a reality than anyone in the century since it was first proposed. This includes designing the scheme in collaboration with local residents, overcoming financial pressures and successfully securing planning permission and Compulsory Purchase Orders.

'Not only would the bypass remove long-standing and intolerable congestion from Banwell, but the wider scheme includes miles of walking and cycling tracks, as well as a substantial bio-diversity net gain. The bypass is also key to unlocking future housing sites, which are vital in seizing the opportunities presented by regional growth.

'As ever, we are focusing our efforts on moving this top-quality scheme forward and delivering for our communities, working alongside partners and doing all we can to get back on track and back on site soon.'

Alun Griffiths and parent company Tarmac declined to comment.

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Senior Highway Engineer (Development Management)

£42679.0000 - £50211.0000 per annum
Senior Highway Engineer (Development Management)Permanent, Full Time£43,960 to £51,718 per annum*Location
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Project Manager (Major Projects)

£44,711 - £47,754
Are you an experienced project professional or engineer with looking to take the next step in your career? Halifax, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council

Senior Civil Engineer - Roads

£45,894 - £54,952
Are you an experienced engineer looking to support the Scottish Government’s national objectives. Scotland
Recruiter: Transport Scotland

Senior Civil Engineering Technician

Grade 7 £29,093 to £32,654 per annum
We are looking for a flexible individual who has the ability to meet targets and analyse and resolve complex technical problems and formulate a design Durham
Recruiter: Durham County Council

Project Team Manager

£55,147 to £60,676 per annum
We are pleased to be able to offer an opportunity for a role as Design Team Manager Norwich, Norfolk
Recruiter: Norfolk County Council

Clerk of Works

GRADE 08 (£37,938 - £41,511)
Warrington is one of the most successful towns in the country Warrington, Cheshire
Recruiter: Warrington Borough Council

Assistant Projects Engineer

GRADE 06 (£29,093 - £32,654),GRADE 07 (£33,366 - £37,035), GRADE 08 (£37,938 - £41,511)
Warrington is one of the most successful towns in the country Warrington, Cheshire
Recruiter: Warrington Borough Council

Principal Projects Manager

GRADE 10 (£47,754 - £50,788)
Warrington is one of the most successful towns in the country Warrington, Cheshire
Recruiter: Warrington Borough Council

Principal Engineer - Traffic Management

£45,718 - £48,710 per annum
At Bath & North East Somerset Council we have one overriding purpose – to improve people’s lives. Bath, Somerset
Recruiter: Bath & North East Somerset Council

Vehicle Technician - Improver

£28,624 - £30,060
Transport Services is responsible for all aspects of transport and related services Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Principal Engineer - Highways Safety

£37,035 - £45,718 (plus £3000 Market Rate Supplement, reviewed annually)
To help achieve our ambition we are looking for a Principal Engineer with the following skills and experience to join the team. Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Senior Engineer (Bridges & Structures)

£28,624 - £36,124
Do you want to be an engineer who makes a difference? Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Part Time Caretaker and General Hand

Up to £25081.00 per annum + Full Time Equivalent
Part Time Caretaker and General HandPermanent, Part Time£25,081 Per Annum, Full Time Equivalent, equal to £13.00 per hourLocation
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Programme Delivery Office Administrator

Grade 9 £31,344 - £33,253 per annum
At Derbyshire, we have been on a journey to transform the way we deliver highway services to make them fit for the future Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Support Officer - Highways Asset Management Systems

£31,586 - £34,314
We are a forward-thinking organisation dedicated to maintaining and improving our highway infrastructure. Lincolnshire
Recruiter: Lincolnshire County Council

Highways Officer (East)

£31,586 - £34,314
This is an exciting opportunity in an ever-evolving service that is both challenging and rewarding. Lincolnshire
Recruiter: Lincolnshire County Council

Rights of Way Assistant

£28,797 - £30,708
Within the Highways Directorate we are looking to appoint enthusiastic, customer focused and experienced person to join the Service. Darley Dale, Matlock
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Principal Transport Planner (Strategy)

£46,731-£49,764
We are looking for an experienced professional to join North Northamptonshire Council as a Principal Transport Planner (Strategy). Sheerness House, 41 Meadow Road, Kettering moving to Haylock House, Kettering Parkway, Kettering NN15 6EY, United Kingdom
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council

Highways Capital Delivery Manager

£50,788 - £52,805
To be responsible for the implementation of Welsh Government’s Renewal and Upgrade programme. Baglan, Port Talbot
Recruiter: South Wales Trunk Road Agent

Electrical Engineer

Grade 9 £34,314 to £37,938 - Grade 10 £37,035 to £40,476 - Grade 11 £39,513 to £43,693 - Grade 12 £42,708 to £46,731 p.a.
The Construction Consultancy Services (CCS) team provide client-side construction consultancy services across a range of professional disciplines to d Durham
Recruiter: Durham County Council
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW