Daft Old Duffer returns. Guest opinion articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the publication. Ed
I’m sorry everybody, but let’s be realistic about this.
In my opinion (and it’s just my opinion so I’m sure some of you might disagree), the asphalt plant required for the PFI contract is going to be built. It is going to be built on the Island, and it is going to be built where the Contractor wants it to be built.
And that is because the plant is not some after-thought, some addition it would be desirable to have, but a core part of their plan.
And here’s why
When the contract is operating at full throttle there will be work going on at multiple parts of the Island, all at the same time. And each of these work sections will be employing a multitude of expensive machinery together with large gangs of well paid labour. None of which can be allowed to hang expensively about, waiting for supplies.
In order to fulfil the contract as efficiently as possible therefore, and thereby maximise profits, there must be the minimum of delay between the completion of the road surface base work and the delivery of the hot asphalt needed to cover it.
Tight schedules
Lorries will need to leave the asphalt plant to a strict schedule, governed no doubt by a computer generated critical path. The position of the plant relative to the work being done, and the routes taken by the delivery lorries must be as short and direct as possible.
So any idea that the plant can be located somewhere away from the Island is, frankly, laughable.
Other sites?
This does not necessarily mean that the present proposed site will be the one finally chosen. The Contractor will for surely have anticipated objections by the people affected, and will have pencilled in a couple of alternatives.
In fact, one of the alternatives might well be the one actually preferred, with the initial location merely set up as a diversionary Aunt Sally.
St George’s Down unlikely
The existing plant on St George’s Down has been suggested as one such alternative. But I think it an unlikely one, for it would entail the PFI Contractor sharing one of the most profitable parts of their contract with someone else.
As well as losing direct control of the tight quality and delivery requirements.
In any case, an installation sized to supply the low-key needs of the local Council will hardly be enough to match the demands of the PFI. So the plant would have to be extended considerably.
Takeover?
There is the possibility, of course, of the Contractor purchasing the St George’s site outright and then building an asphalt plant to suit their requirements.
But my guess is that they will find it much more sensible to build a brand new, state of the art plant in some more convenient position accessible to barge and lorry alike. Somewhere at the water’s edge in fact.
And the various attempts made to thwart the Contractor’s plans by citing air, ground, and water pollution will have no effect beyond that anticipated, and catered for, by their team of seasoned experts.
Legal eagles
These are professional people who have handled contracts all over the world. People who have already met and overcome every conceivable objection. People whose legal department knows all the EU and UK regulations by heart. Including all the loopholes.
To such people, all the objections and public meetings and enquiries and delays are just par for the course. The cost of it all has already been factored into their price. The price you and me will of course be paying.
All the speeches and protests and public meetings and waving of arms is not going to make the slightest difference.
Image: TooFarNorth under CC BY 2.0
