A Swindon motorist has criticised the borough council for the cost of a delayed major roads project.

As work continues on widening Junction 15 of the M4 and the council’s scrutiny committee launches an investigation into why major roads projects in the borough often overrun in time and costs, reader Derek Richards got in touch with the Adver.

He queried the way the overrunning works at Junction 16 three years ago was reported.

At the time, Swindon Borough Council said the £11.43m scheme had exceeded its budget by £760,000. Leader David Renard said such an overrun – of 6.4 per cent – “was not unusual.”

He said: “Anyone who has been involved in a major construction project knows that there will always be some variance between the initial estimate and the final costs because of factors beyond anyone’s control such as the weather or what conditions may exist beneath the ground.”

But Mr Richards points out the increase in the liability for Swindon taxpayers was a far greater percentage.

He said: “The business case shows the expected the total costs of £11.43m to be shared between the Local Government Fund at £5.92m, developer funding at £3.75m and Swindon Borough Council at £2.76m.

He added: “The Swindon taxpayers were committed to £2.76m plus all the overspends, for which they were solely liable.

“Therefore, the extra £760,000 represents an overspend for Swindon council taxpayers of 28 per cent, not 6.4 per cent as was quoted.”

Mr Richards said he brought this up with the council.

The authority’s response was: “We are comfortable that a suitable risk budget was identified for the scheme and that management of the scheme has been satisfactory.

Coun Renard is not available to respond.

His deputy, councillor Gary Sumner, the cabinet member for strategic infrastructure and transport, said the council is investing £100m in the borough’s highways.

This includes the Junction 15 improvements and work on major roads to prepare for the New Eastern Villages expansion.

Coun Sumner said: “When dealing with any potential overspends on major capital schemes such as Junction 16, we will always try to re-scope the project if possible, identifying additional sources of funding – including underspends on other projects. 

"The processes and controls that the government has in place when allocating funding to these schemes, mean that the council must meet regional and national objectives and show value for money and absolute fiscal prudence in order to be awarded the capital funding through the staged payments. 

"Cabinet agreed that any CIL receipts for 2019/20 continue to be used to support the improvement works at Junction 16. An example of this is the £100m we will make out of Wichelstowe."