Fastway Bus Service costs £5.7m more than ancitipated

Disciplinary procedures have been instituted against four county council officers over the way the high'“tech Fastway bus service project in Crawley was handled.The scheme, which should remove an anticipated 1,000 peak hour cars from the corridor between the town centre, industrial estates and Gatwick airport by 2008, will now cost Â£5.7 million more than originally anticipated.

Independent auditors have suggested that it is about what the officers failed to do, rather than what they did that contributed to the increase.

It may be that some of those involved will face some disciplinary action if they are unable to provide satisfactory explanations.

Originally, the overspend was expected to be 6.2 million, but improved project management is expected to reduce the figure to 5.7 million on latest forecasts.

The county council has stressed that the increase in costs will be managed within the existing capital programme and will not involve any increase in council tax.

For full story see this week's West Sussex Gazette.