Gran Scala works will not start for another year.

The ILD promoters have said that building will begin in 2009, probably in the 3rd quarter. So in the period of one year they have already gone over schedule by one year. Can anyone be blamed for doubting the project?

The blame apparently goes to the change of destination for the project and the complexity of signing land purchases with 130 different owners, many of whom have irregularities in their paperwork.

But with the world in financial crisis and bank lending at its present level, other reasons are certainly in the public mind. The question has to be whether the initial hype and good will from the Aragon government will continue to uphold with these continuous delays, or whether the whole thing will just gradually drift into oblivion.

Meanwhile here in Spain the construction industry is grinding to a halt and unemployment is going through the roof. A grand project would be welcome at this time no doubt, though it looks less and less likely to come when its wanted.