Staffordshire council legal threat on cladding

Builders of Staffordshire County Council's £38 million headquarters could have to pay out over delays on the project.

Retail units at the bottom of Staffordshire Place have not opened yet because of problems with the cladding.

Council bosses said the shops, advertised for between £31,000 and £49,300 a year, would have been open by now were it not for falling masonry.

They are also considering legal action if no conclusion can be reached on the hold-ups.

Mark Winnington, environment and assets boss, said: "What I have said is that if there are any extra costs we experience because of the problems with the cladding, we shall expect the contractors to reimburse us. As we have said from day one – it's not our problem."