Belfast City Council today confirmed the contract for the development of the Connswater Community Greenway has been terminated after a year-long dispute with contractors Connswater Joint Venture (CJV).

However, the council insisted that it was still open to a resolution of the dispute in line with the Outcome of the conciliation process.

The council had agreed to a proposal from CJV to enter into a conciliation process in an effort to resolve the dispute and said it was happy to accept the Outcome of the process, which was conducted by a senior London barrister with expertise in construction law.

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The report vindicated the council's handling of the dispute and recommended a settlement sum for the contract to be brought to an end.

CJV - incorporating two companies, SIAC and Galliford Try – has 28 days from the issue of the report to respond, but in the meantime the council has decided to proceed with the termination process to ensure there is no further delay in delivering this project within the timeframe of the funding.

Failure to progress the design of the scheme and the work on the ground were among the reasons given for the action.

(CD)