A MAJOR part of the controversial Hampshire Rose Bowl project will not be completed in time for its maiden test match, the Daily Echo can reveal.
Work on the hotel is unlikely to be finished by next year and had been put on hold due to the legal battle surrounding the £32m scheme.
But Rose Bowl bosses claim that the rest of the stadium work is going ahead as planned and say they are positive about keeping the England versus Sri Lanka clash planned for next year on Hampshire soil.
England cricket chiefs have confirmed they will be carrying out inspections nearer the time to make sure it meets their stringent standards but added that the test match could still be played with redevelopment work incomplete.
Work on the £32.2m Hilton hotel has been halted pending a judicial review launched by neighbouring hoteliers Meridian Leisure, MacDonalds Hotels and Shire Hotel.
They claim Eastleigh Borough councillors did not have access to all relevant reports when making their decision, to invest £32m of taxpayers cash in the scheme last year.
They also say the authority is taking risks with public money.
The work on the hotel project cannot restart until after the result of the judicial review and it is thought the hearing will be heard until at least May or June.
Eastleigh Council leader Keith House said: “It is highly likely the hotel will not be completed in time for the test match in summer 2011.
“The Rose Bowl scheme really does matter to the area as it will provide a major economic boost and help provide a world class cricketing venue.
“It is our expectations that, along with the Rose Bowl, we will be able to manage the process to ensure that the viability of the scheme is maintained and that the scheme can go ahead.”
There were fears that work on the new stand may also be delayed after a 34-yearold construction worker was killed by one of two industrial accidents to happen on the West End site in just one week.
However, bosses say work has been resumed and they are still on schedule.
The accidents are the subject of a joint investigation by the police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
In addition to the 175-bedroom hotel the completed £48m project will include a championship golf course, additional stands, 75 hospitality boxes and a state-of-the art media centre.
Rose Bowl boss Glenn Delve played down fears the delay could lose the stadium the coveted clash between England and Sri Lanka in the summer of 2011.
He said: “Work on our parts of the project have restarted and are on schedule to be completed before the test match.
“We are in constant contact with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and they are extremely positive.
“The test match will bring world class cricket and money to the area.
“It is a major coup and will bring with it a lot of kudos.”
An ECB spokesman confirmed it would be holding further inspections to make sure the facilities were up to test match standards.
He said: “Hampshire Cricket has been extremely open about what’s going on and we are in constant discussions with them.
“It is possible to stage a test match before the work is completed and the lack of a hotel would be unlikely to have a significant impact on that.
“We will continue to monitor it, as we do all our test match grounds.”
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