Evidence of further slippage in the problem-bedeviled Prom scheme is revealed in newly-released minutes.

At meeting of the strategic board on August 14, Infrastructure Minister Tim Baker recorded his ’extreme disappointment’ that published dates for completion and roads reopening could yet again not be met.

At the previous meeting in July there was concern that the programme had slipped by nine days and Mr Baker said it was difficult to be confident that it would be delivered on time.

By the August meeting there were concerns that the planned September 8 reopening date of Summerhill would be missed - but the contractor had been informed this was non-negotiable.

Mr Baker insisted that the public must be advised why these delays continue to occur.

With reports of no work being done over large areas of the scheme, DoI construction manager Gary Saunders said contractor Auldyn ’appears not to recognise the associated impact on the public’.

Project manager Alistair Burroughs said the contractor’s working hours had increased to 12,000 from 7,000 the previous month.

Despite this, he said, dates had slipped again mainly due to issues with the roundabout at Broadway and the gas main being within 0.5m of the road surface.

Mr Saunders said the contractor had been offered use of DoI resources but they ’did not appear keen to accept’.

Public transport director Ian Longworth said he had not observed any concrete being laid that week for the tram track base.

Auldyn director Tadhg O’Mahony expressed concern about daily changes required to the programme of works.

He cited the example of a simple ’plane and overlay’ becoming a ’total reconstruction with kerbing’.

Mr O’Mahony reported no success in sourcing a kerbing gang from the UK but he had succeeding in recruiting a block-paving squad.

The Minister suggested other DoI schemes could be put on hold and workers moved to help on the Promenades.

Mr O’Mahony said a potential solution had been found to the issues with the red concrete cracking in the tram corridor.

He said he had requested samples for colour matching but mentioned he had questions about the material’s durability.

Mr Burroughs agreed to look at options for signalling for the horse tramway.

The board meeting was told that the Post Office was planning to issue a series of commemorative stamps to coincide with the planned reopening of the Promenade.

Whether these will feature traffic cones, Heras fencing, cracked concrete and fed-up business owners was not mentioned.