The spa building is still shrouded in scaffolding

The latest delay came over a problem with peeling paint in the pools.

The builders, Mowlem, said it was the wrong sort, but the architects, Grimshaw, said it was not applied correctly.

Mowlem refused to remove the paint and refused to allow any other builders to deal with the problem.

As a result, on Thursday, Bath and North East Somerset Council (B&NES) started injunction proceedings against Mowlem to allow new contractors on site.

We are in no doubt that the problem is with the design and specification, not our workmanship Mowlem

In a statement, the contractor said: "Mowlem refutes categorically any claim that it is responsible for the problems currently being encountered with the painted surfaces to the spa pools on the Bath Spa project.

"We are in no doubt that the problem is with the design and specification, not our workmanship.

"We will strenuously resist any injunction served."

The hearing will take place on Thursday, 2 October.

The project has been a stop-start affair since the original project was unveiled in September 2000.

An NHS spa treatment centre on the site was closed on health grounds in 1978 and since then, attempts to restore the spas have failed because of cost and concerns over the purity of the water's source.

But in 2000, the Millennium Commission gave a grant of �7.78m to refurbish five listed buildings within the complex, including the 18th Century Hot Bath and Cross Bath.

Work on the ambitious project began soon afterwards, but the scheme was plagued by a series of delays culminating in several further setbacks since May.