Lews Castle panel to discuss stalled contract legal mess 12/2/13
Discussions to break the stalemate contract over the failed Lews Castle repairs are
taking place this week.
The Lews Castle project board will hear of legal options to get rid of contractor
Patton which has undertaken no work on the preliminary contract on crumbling building
since the Northern Irish firm fell into administration with £63 million debts some
three months ago.
Administrator Tom Keenan has not given the Comhairle’s deadlines great attention
but given time elapsed since building workers downed tools and the financially-stricken
company’s assets being sold off, the council is now in a stronger legal position
to seek a replacement builder.
The firm’s office headquarters and workshops in County Antrim , other properties
and land bank went up for sale last week.
However, the £2 million Lews Castle contract is still controlled by the administrator
and premature cancellation could be seen as a breach of contract.
Work on the outside works at the Castle is about halfway complete while some internal
repairs, including asbestos removal, is still required.
The council was reluctant to strike off Patton as it risked losing a £200,000 performance
bond.
In any case, the next phase of the castle redevelopment - major works worth about
£9 million - has been held up as final details over tender costs are still to be
agreed.
A major £9 million project to return the crumbling Lews Castle in Stornoway to return
to its former glory and convert it into plush hotel and heritage centre is in limbo
because of the collapse of construction firm Patton which was undertaking preliminary
works.
The Lews Castle Project Board - which includes representatives from Western Isles
Council, the Stornoway Trust, UHI Lews Castle College, HIE, Scottish Natural Heritage
and Stornoway Regeneration Group - will debate a proposal on resuming the preliminary
works..