CATHEDRAL Quarter contractors Eric Wright last night took over building Blackburn’s much-delayed new bus station.

The deal was sealed yesterday afternoon and the new construction team will be on site on Monday.

Borough regeneration boss Phil Riley said he hoped the £4.7million public transport complex, originally scheduled to open by January, would be completed before Christmas.

He said the scheme remained in budget and the part-completed structure was ‘sound’.

On June 4, Blackburn with Darwen Council dramatically sacked the original main contractors Thomas Barnes after a string of delays, The move, which saw the former market site being locked up by security staff, followed weeks of legal negotiations between the council, the Bury-based construction firm and project managers Capita.

Eric Wright, which delivered the town’s new sports and leisure centre ahead of schedule and are on timetable to complete the £33 million Cathedral Quarter in December, will spend the weekend setting up their site office in preparation for a Monday start.

Tory group leader Mike Lee and Blackburn’s Business Improvement District manager Harriet Roberts welcomed the move but said meeting the December completion deadline was crucial for town centre businesses.

In May, the Lancashire Telegraph revealed lawyers had been called in over a dispute between Capita and Barnes over whether the steel structure supporting the fibre-glass roof and the plate glass side panels was sufficient to support the structure in all conditions.

Last night Cllr Riley said: “I am delighted Eric Wright have now been appointed to complete the bus station development.

“They are keen to get on site as soon as possible to complete the construction and will be working closely with Capita.

“It is now the plan to complete the bus station in line with the neighbouring Cathedral Quarter development.

“We are satisfied that the existing work is sound.

“We would not be cracking on to finish it if that was not the case.

“The project remains within its original budget and there are no extra liabilities to Blackburn with Darwen council as result of this change.

“I am pleased Eric Wright will now complete it as their progress with the complex Cathedral Quarter development has been exemplary.”

A Capita spokesperson said: “We are pleased that Eric Wright has been appointed as the new contractor for the bus station.

“We look forward to working with them as they build our designs for a first class bus station for the people of Blackburn.”

Jonathan Rayner, operations director at Eric Wright Construction, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded such a prestigious contract, especially one that is so close to our landmark Blackburn Cathedral Quarter project.

“We take pride in delivering quality schemes and the project will create a number of employment opportunities for local people.

“We are looking forward to getting started on site and will be working closely with Blackburn Council and Capita to deliver outstanding work within agreed timescales.”

Cllr Lee said: “I am very pleased we have a new main contractor.

“I hope that the bus station will now go smoothly and be completed as promised by this Christmas which is vital for traders and particularly those on the market.

“It is a vital project for the regeneration of the town centre.

“I shall be watching progress very carefully.”

Ms Roberts said: “This is excellent news.

“I hope that the bus station will be completed on its new timetable for Christmas which is vital for town centre traders.

“We shall be monitoring progress carefully.”

No-one at Thomas Barnes was available for comment last night.

Earlier this month they revealed they were consulting lawyers over the contract termination.

There remains the prospect that the dispute could yet end up in the courts.