THE cost of developing a new cycle path through Rainham has ballooned by £5,000, according to a report by Havering Council reports the Local Democracy Reporter.
The council is planning the route along Marsh Way with help from the Thames Freeport, a strategic port that sits across the London boroughs of Havering and Barking & Dagenham, and Thurrock in Essex.
Havering Council was given £1million by the Freeport to develop the ‘active travel’ scheme and commissioned independent consultancy firm Markides Associates to help, at a cost of £18,944.
The firm was tasked with advising developers on securing planning permission and negotiating with Network Rail and Ford.
However, its fee has now risen to £23,944 and Havering needs the extra £5,000 after it “exhausted” its funds.
“In order to enable Markides to continue to provide the council with technical support, there is now a need to extend the commission for a short period of time whilst these final agreements are being reached,” the council says.
Alongside co-ordinating the planning application, Markides will also help co-ordinate bus stops and traffic signals.
Havering secured the funding from Transport for London in March. No council funds are being spent on the scheme.
The Freeport needs to improve its connectivity in the area ahead of 21,000 new jobs expected to be created over the next 25 years, the report adds.
