Secret report reveals soaring Metrobus costs

Costs to build part of Bristol’s controversial Metrobus network have soared by more than £9m since the summer, a confidential report seen by Bristol24/7 reveals.

The Ashton Vale to Temple Meads (AVTM) route was estimated to cost £51.2m in July. This overall cost was up from £41.5m estimates made in 2011. 

However, the report at City Hall produced for the mayor and cabinet members now says these costs have risen to about £60m. 

Tenders above forecasts

It says the lowest tenders to complete key parts of the route were well above forecasts.

These included lowest tenders of £4.4m for the costs of upgrading Ashton Avenue Bridge, and £1.7m for the costs associated with the Bathurst Basin Bridges – needed to allow for the mayor George Ferguson’s desire to divert the scheme away from Prince Street Bridge.

The Department for Transport is providing some £34.5m towards the entire cost of the AVTM route, with the rest paid for by local authorities. Bristol provides about 80 per cent of this local contribution. 

In 2011, the city was preparing to pay £5.6m for the AVTM route. By July this year, this had jumped to £13.3m.

Officers are now examining cost savings elsewhere in the AVTM project in an effort to prevent the bill running out of control. If savings cannot be found, Bristol could be facing a payment of more than £20m.

Judicial review fear

Savings being considered include the omission of street lighting along the route, cutting £2.4m of carriageway work on Cumberland Road and £1.1m in the city centre.

Meanwhile, it outlines the risk that a third party could bring a judicial review against the council’s “irrational” decision to enter into contracts for a sum that “significantly exceeds the professionally prepared budget estimates”.

The report is a confidential annex for cabinet members who decided last week to plough ahead with the controversial bus network.

The AVTM Metrobus plans were approved by councillors in Bristol in March, after changes to the route requested by Ferguson were agreed.

The route linking the city centre to the Ashton Vale park-and-ride site via Cumberland Road had initially been planned to run over Prince Street Bridge and through the city docks past the M Shed – but were scrapped by Ferguson shortly after he was elected in 2012.

It is one of three parts of the overall Metrobus project which aims to provide a high-speed bus network linking north and south Bristol with the city centre.

Campaigners shocked

Last night, campaigners against the Metrobus project said they were shocked the costs had risen so sharply, even before work had started, and questioned whether Bristol City Council could find £9m in savings required.

Pip Sheard from StopBRT2 said: “We have consistently warned of the likelihood that costs would escalate and we can expect them to rise even further once work starts.

“It is shocking that the costs have gone up this much before any work has started.

“It is essential now that a full breakdown of the AVTM budget is produced so we can all see where our money is going.

“The rise in the cost of Bristol’s financial contribution for this pointless scheme says it all. In 2011, it was due to be £5.5m, in 2013 £12m, earlier this year £13.3m, now it could £20.5m. 

“Stop BRT2 believes it is time to cut our Metrobus losses and abandon AVTM before any contracts are signed.”

Neither the Metrobus team at the West of England Partnership, nor Bristol City Council, were able to comment today.

Picture: Ashton Avenue Bridge, by Jon Craig