Fife Council has pulled the plug on its dealings with the firm building Dunfermline’s beleaguered flood prevention scheme.
The project is now a staggering £11 million over budget and is still not complete, more than four years after it was meant to be delivered.
Last Friday the local authority decided to terminated its contract with Byzak Limited, the company carrying out the works associated with the much-maligned scheme.
The news comes only weeks after Fife Council announced it was to sue the firm behind the scheme for nearly £10 million.
At that time the local authority said it wanted residents to know it was taking “significant action” against project designers Atkins Limited due to the huge overrun in timescale and the increase in costs.
While the latest twist will inevitably mean more delays as a new contractor is found, Fife’s transportation and environment spokesman Pat Callaghan said he shared the frustration of residents caught in the middle of the chaos.
Fife Council said it had taken this step after “serious consideration and legal advice” and Councillor Callaghan said: “The current level of performance is unacceptable and Fife Council has had to intervene to remedy the situation.
“I share the frustration of Dunfermline residents over the length of time this project is taking and we apologise for this.
“Please be assured we are doing everything within our power to complete this project as soon as possible and end the inconvenience and disruption caused by it.”
The local authority will now begin the process of retendering the project, so as to see it completed.
“All going well, a new contractor will be on site in early summer, with the works completed in autumn.
“In the meantime, the site will be kept in a safe and secure condition and we are taking steps to remove the temporary traffic signals at Forth Street until a new contractor is appointed.”