Highland Council admits cost of Inverness West Link road could rise almost £10m to £43m
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THE cost of the West Link road in Inverness could spiral to almost £43.5m by the time it is complete - nearly £10m more than previous estimates.
The figure was announced by Highland Council this afternoon ahead of publication of a new council report, which is expected to detail the costs, next week.
The council said the latest figure, as of December last year, had risen to £36.6m, itself £2m up on the same point in 2013.
But with construction expected to run until 2020/21, once inflation is applied to the new figure to allow for this duration, the council believes the figure could balloon to £43.35m. Officers are expected to recommend that the local authority use this latter figure when setting funds aside for it.
News of the spiralling cost come after months of speculation that the original estimate had risen.
Audit Scotland has also criticised the authority for its lack of an update on the figures in the past.
Critics have repeatedly accused the council of a smoke screen, arguing that costs of up to £60m for the project were likely. Highland Council has yet to confirm if the new official estimate of up to £43.5m includes the separate costs of redeveloping Torvean Golf Course or Highland Rugby Club, which are both in the way of the planned route and will need to be revamped to accommodate it. The budget for the golf club revamp alone is already confirmed as being £7.4 million.
Responding to the new West Link figure the Chair of Planning Development and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Thomas Prag, claimed: “The costs of the West Link reported are in line with figures already given to council previously. The project offers substantial opportunities to further enhance sports facilities and attractions for the benefit of the whole of Inverness.
“The Torvean and Ness-side Development Brief identifies and protects part of the area to the west side of the canal for the development of a sports hub. A feasibility study has been commissioned through Highlife Highland for the potential to create a regional sports facility in the West of Inverness, with significant investment from SportScotland. The outcome of this study will be reported to committee in due course.”
Costs for the West Link and associated sports facilities will be considered at a full council meeting on 12 March, as part of the capital programme.
