Work ban blow to Chunnel Rail Link

THE Channel Tunnel Rail Link faces huge delays after builders were refused permission to work round the clock to keep the project on track.

Camden council last night rejected an application for 24-hour working over the next two years, saying compensation offered to residents was inadequate.

It wanted £500 per week for each resident affected, or £100 per night where the noise exceeded certain levels. But project organisers offered only up to £25 a week.

Without the extended hours, the £5.2bn project will miss its end-2006 deadline.

The application was made on behalf of London & Continental Railways (LCR), which is building the link under a Public-Private Partnership deal with the Government, and Rail Link Engineering, the project manager.

The rail link is subject to a Code of Construction Practice which sets out working hours of 8am-6pm Monday to Friday and 8am-1pm on Saturdays.

Camden says hundreds of residents near the main St Pancras worksites have experienced 'serious impacts from the works that have already been undertaken'.

An appeal can be made to the Transport Secretary or a new offer may be submitted to Camden. Project spokesmen declined to comment.

Rail Link Engineering is a joint venture set up by LCR's engineering shareholders - Bechtel, Arup, Sir William Halcrow & Partners and Systra. Contractors include J Mowlem, Edmund Nuttall and Costain.