A milestone has been reached in the ongoing dispute between Herefordshire Council and Amey Wye Valley Ltd, which was contracted to carry out a number of services over a ten year period.

The Council has been taking action to resolve a range of disputed matters with the company, which dealt with a range of services including highways, since 2012.

An adjudicator had ruled that the council was entitled to the return of £9,500,632 which had been over-paid during the contract period between 2003 and 2013.

Amey launched cross proceedings but the High Court Judge backed the Council on Monday, October 3rd.

A Herefordshire Council spokesperson told the Ross Gazette:?“We are pleased with Monday’s High Court ruling. Our contract with Amey ran from September 1st, 2003 to August 31st, 2013 and we have been taking action to resolve a range of disputed matters since 2012.

“This particular ruling relates to the amounts paid for inflation. It is the culmination of a dispute resolution process as set out by the contract and legislation.”

They continued:?“The council has, in line with proper contract management principles, made payments to Amey in accordance with our contract, until the dispute is resolved.

“We shall continue to take all reasonable steps to resolve all remaining matters, acting in the interests of the council and the people of Herefordshire. Given that those matters are yet to be determined, we do not wish to comment further.”