A HOSPITAL building contract in Alderney has gone behind schedule. The first phase of the refurbishment of the Mignot Memorial was due to be completed in January.

It is understood that it has slipped months behind.

Contractors Charles Le Quesne, which also secured the clinical block at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital in controversial circumstances last year, has had problems on the development.

‘They got on extremely well to start off with but there have been delays with Charles Le Quesne experiencing operational difficulties which we’re hoping they’ll rectify,’ said deputy Health minister David Grut.

While the first phase had been delayed, Deputy Grut still hoped the overall project would be completed on time and within budget.

Alderney States members said that they did not know why the project had run behind schedule.

Steve Price, the States Engineer, said he had not been aware of anything beyond what he called ‘contractual squabbling’.

‘We ‘Alderney States’ haven’t been involved in any of the contractual operations on the site and have had to rely on supervision from Guernsey,’ he said.

The States of Guernsey is funding and organising the project as part of the transferred-services agreement between the two islands.

‘I am aware of the loss of the project manager and the delay, but not of any more serious concerns,’ said Alderney Policy and Finance chairman Richard Willmott.

‘I’d be extremely upset if it was another Bailiwick-wide project going adrift.’

States member Liz Bennett, who liaises with Guernsey on health issues, said she had ‘no idea’ about problems surrounding the delay.

Contractor and States member Ian Tugby has done some plumbing and lighting work on the hospital project. He said that he was unaware of any disputes on site.

* Charles Le Quesne’s Jersey-based spokesman Roger Simmons was not available for comment prior to going to press.