DELAYS and extra work needed on three major construction projects in Blaenau Gwent has cost more than £1.7 million, the council heard yesterday.

Acting chief officer for environment and regeneration, Richard Crook, presented members of Blaenau Gwent council’s executive committee with a report outlining the delays.

Member for economic strategy and development, Brian Scully, asked Mr Crook what each delay had cost the council.

The £24 million second phase of the Ebbw Fawr Learning Community development in Ebbw Vale is due to finish on September 1, rather than the original date of July 29, at a further cost of £350,000.

This is due to what Mr Crook described as one of the wettest years on record last year.

“The contractor has accelerated the programme to achieve completion by September 1, 2013,” said the report.

Meanwhile the new £15 million sports centre at the Works site has been delayed by two weeks, at a cost of £550,000 to deal with drainage among other issues, but is on target to open at the start of the September term.

The longest delay has been to the £3 million Hot Mill southern access road, which was supposed to have been completed on June 7, but which has been put back by 11 weeks due to additional drainage, contamination, ground obstructions and slope stabilisation work - costing £880,000.

All additional costs will be funded from the Works budget, the report said.