Unforeseen snags arising in a project to transform the area around Helston’s Grylls Monument are likely to cost at least £25,000 extra to resolve.

As a result, some parts of the scheme may not be able to go ahead as hoped.

Town regeneration officer Martin Searle broke the news to the town council last week, saying that although good progress was being made there were “some unforeseen issues” which he described as “fairly typical on building projects.”

There were two main problems, the first being that the foundations for the new public toilets and storage area have to be re-designed, due to soft ground and the discovery of a large concrete soakaway tank adjacent to the bowling club kitchen that was not detected in the site survey or trial digs. Contractors Cormac have yet to give a valuation over the additional cost this will entail.

The second is that the tarmac over the main area of Monument Walk next to the bowling club pavilion, which was to be topped with resin-bound slabs, was found to be only 25mm thick and laid straight on top of earth, meaning it is far too thin and “entirely unsuitable” for the new surfacing, which would not receive its 20-year guarantee under these circumstances.

As a result, further excavation will have to take place and a sub-base added, which Mr Searle estimated would cost “probably in excess of £25,000.”

This meant cuts may have to be made elsewhere in the project – most likely some of the work planned around re-edging, resurfacing and planting up the Castle Hill steps.

“It’s a considerable area,” said Mr Searle. “Our professional advisors have both been investigating possible savings elsewhere in the scheme.”

Other smaller snags include a two-week delay in the old public toilets being demolished – due to Western Power Distribution disconnecting the electrics later than planned – which may set the project back slightly, while the repointing of the walls around the bowling green by volunteers overseen by the Works Skills Training Academy was “regrettably” not up the standard expected and a price has now been sought for remedial work by Cormac’s building subcontractor.

It will also not be physically possible to complete the proposed work between the base of the Castle Hill steps and the Castle Green car park in the allocated time, due to the development of three housing plots already underway. However, the developers have offered to complete the work later this year for a similar price, with this now being discussed.

Despite these holdups Mr Searle confirmed that the project should still be finished in time for the Armistice Day service and Remembrance Parade on November 11 and 13, with the estimated completion date currently October 28, although he thought it “possible” Cormac might ask for an extra week.