Warwickshire County Council: leader requests 'running update' for public on delayed A46 project

Cllr Seccombe OBE (Con, Stour & the Vale) made the commitment in response to a scathing assessment of progress by Richard Dickson, a Liberal Democrat district councillor from Kenilworth who addressed the county’s cabinet – elected decision makers – this week.

The £38 million project to alleviate congestion and improve road safety was due to be completed in the summer of 2022 but there is currently a disconnected bridge towering over the A46 at Stoneleigh Junction.

Problems sourcing some materials were highlighted some time ago but a report requested by the West Midlands Combined Authority’s (WMCA’s) investment board – the body that has put £6.6 million into the project – revealed a “contractual dispute” between the county council and its contractors Colas.

It highlighted a number of times that Warwickshire County Council is responsible for any cost overruns, currently estimated by the county itself to be £4.6 million, before offering a revised estimated completion date of “mid-2025”, a timescale the county has yet to comment publicly on.

Councillors in charge of major service areas were briefed behind closed doors during Thursday's cabinet meeting – when asked why it could not be discussed in public, Cllr Seccombe told Councillor Sarah Boad (Lib Dem, Leamington North) it was “because it is subject to legal negotiation” – but Mr Dickson staunchly argued that the public had a right to know more.

“The continued problems with this huge project, and the continued secrecy surrounding it, undermines trust in the council and in its elected representatives. And when trust is lost it creates a vacuum for autocrats to take over,” he said.

“This project is an icon of council mismanagement. In due course, others will be able to show they can do better but for now, surely it’s time to come clean with the public and to come up with some answers as to what on earth is going on.”

He asked whether the county’s design review, referenced in the WMCA report, had been completed, when the county’s cost review would be finished and made public and asked for a new estimated project completion date.

Cllr Seccombe could not provide the answers but committed to doing so.

Noting that the county’s portfolio holder for transport and planning Councillor Jan Matecki (Con, Budbrooke & Bishop’s Tachbrook) was not present, she said: “We will certainly ensure that we get answers to the questions.

“I think some of those answers are going to take time but we absolutely will ensure we get a response back to you.

“I am aware you have been here twice and I think it is of particular interest to a number of people so I am looking at an opportunity to ensure we have a running update of questions and responses that we can give for all local people.

"That is something I have asked for so please bear with me to set that one in motion.”