A contractor for one of the UK’s biggest house builders has been banned from operating in Perth and Kinross after a litany of failures while working on a major road into the city centre.
Council bosses took action over the “totally unsatisfactory approach” of Persimmon Homes and its contractors Infinity Construction.
Workers, who were installing two sets of traffic lights on Glasgow Road packed up their tools on Wednesday.
The council intends to complete some of the outstanding work itself and then bill the company.
Commuters, residents and businesses have become increasingly dismayed by the levels of congestion since the work began in September.
Persimmon North Scotland’s managing director has been asked to explain the company’s failure “to meet a detailed list of issues”.
Infinity Construction has been told it “shall receive no further consent to operate within the Perth and Kinross Council roads network”.
The council said no substitute contractor would be allowed back on site until officials were satisfied all consents and conditions would be met.
Businesses along the route said they were resigned to further delays, which will now last well into the New Year, and questioned why the council had asked for traffic lights be installed when granting planning permission to build around 100 properties close to the road.
A council spokesperson said: “The council has, during the course of the contract, become increasingly concerned about the poor quality of the works and working practices on site, and the consequent overall impact on the local public roads network.
“Despite our repeated requests for action, provision of a detailed list of issues to be addressed, a one-week extension for completion of the works, and multiple assurances from the contractor and Persimmon Homes, the works are still incomplete and our concerns remain.”
Jack Findlay, owner of the Cherrybank Inn, close to the works, said: “We have had traffic built up outside our premises for the past 14 weeks.
“Our biggest problem has been accessibility in the car park. Evenings have been ok, but lunchtimes have been an issue. From what I can see, it looks like they still have a bit to do yet.”
Liberal Democrat councillor Willie Wilson said the project “has been nothing short of shambolic” from the very beginning.
“We have asked the council to ensure that Persimmon have a proper plan to complete the works in the New Year. It is just not acceptable that Persimmon’s incompetence of the last few months should be repeated,” he said.
A spokeswoman for Persimmon Homes apologised for the inconvenience caused by the prolonged roadworks. “We have been proactively engaging with the council throughout the course of the works,” she said.
She said unforeseen ground conditions were to blame for the delay.
“Persimmon Homes is committed to completing the works to the satisfaction of the local authority and has requested an urgent strategy meeting to discuss and agree the process for the successful delivery of these outstanding works,” she added.
