Portfolio holder: I will not resign - nor play 'blame game' - over Corporation Road Bridge fiasco

                                          

The good old days - the bridge before its closure more than two years ago 

'I WILL will not resign over the Corporation Road Bridge fiasco . . .

These are the defiant words of senior North East Lincolnshire Council cabinet member Stewart Swinburn.

"Resignation won’t solve the issues," declared the portfolio holder for transport and highways. "I will not walk away from a challenge."

When work started on the repairs in February 2023, the project was expected to be completed by 12 months later.

But last month the main contractor, Spencer Group, was fired and, as yet no firm has been appointed to complete the works.

Cllr Swinburn said he relied on the technical expertise of specialists  to guide his decisions. "It’s right to trust the experts," he insisted.

But the portfolio holder insisted he would not play the name game. 

"Pointing fingers doesn’t repair bridges," he continued. "I was elected to serve the community - not to sidestep challenges."

Without going into detail, Cllr Swinburn revealed that the decision to fire the main contractor had been  prompted after the authority "inside information".

The NELC administration’s position was defended by its leader, Cllr Philip Jackson.

"On the initial independent survey it had been impossible to detect the extent of  corrosion and degeneration in the structure," he declared.

He said the decision to axe the Hull-based main contractor been made when the council  heard word that not only was there likely to be an "escalation of costs" but also that the project would continue "well into next year".

Both councillors apologised for the delays and expressed frustration about what has happened.

They said the search to find a new contractor would continue "at pace".

In the meantime, sub-contractors are being kept up to speed and scaffolding and security remain in place.