Jarvis fire station PFIs hit by delays

Jarvis is running three months late on its £30m fire station PFI in Tyneside.
Six new-build fire stations were due to be completed in June, but will not now be ready until October at the earliest due to a reported slow down in work and subcontractors downing tools over late payment.
A Jarvis spokeswoman said: "We are running a few weeks behind schedule. If you go around the sites there is a lot of work going on. We are working with the fire authority.
"Work was virtually halted a month ago, but the amount of labour on site has been picking up dramatically and continues to do so.
"We would expect the first station to open in the early part of October."
A Tyne & Wear Fire Authority spokesman confirmed the PFI project was running late, although he was confident the project would be completed by the agreed deadline.
"We had a recent meeting with Jarvis and we were reassured that everything is now back on track and the new deadline would be reached," he said.
However, one project source told CJ: "Work has virtually ground to a halt across all the sites. Some of the sites have only one worker carrying out work.
"Many subcontractors stopped work and walked off site after they became worried that they wouldn't be paid by Jarvis due to its financial difficulties. Looking at work in progress at the moment, it is unlikely that Jarvis will meet the October deadline."
The Fire Authority spokesman added: "We need to discuss the issue [of compensation claims] after completion and see what clauses are in the contract."
The six stations, in the order in which they are to be opened, are: North Moor Lane, Sunderland; Market Lane in Swalwell; Colby Court and Union Road in Newcastle; Dryden Road in Low Fell, Gateshead; and Glover Road in Washington.
A new headquarters in Barmston Mere in Washington and a technical service centre on Gateshead's Quayside are also being built.
Jarvis was awarded the contract in December 2002 after beating Kajima.