Conwy council have wasted more then £320,000 on a building they can't use in Mochdre.

In May 2016 Conwy County Borough Council (CCBC) entered into a lease for a site on the Mochdre Commerce Park in an attempt to centralise its environmental services to one location.

However the council have been unable to use the site since entering into the lease in 2016 due to a major fault with the concrete base which has meant vehicles could no enter.

In February 2017, after a nine month rent free period, CCBC began spending £20,000 a month on rent. It was not until June 2018, having spent £320,000 worth of rent on an unusable site they approached the landlord to strike a deal to not pay rent until a solution was decided upon.

A CCBC spokesperson said: "The council took a lease on the Mochdre site to bring its environmental services into one depot, making the services more efficient for the long term.

"Given its location close to the A55, the site at Mochdre would enable us to better serve and access all parts of the county, particularly during key periods such as winter.

"However, as we moved to the fit-out stage issues were identified a major fault that meant immediate occupation of the building was not possible for our use.

"We have commissioned comprehensive surveys to identify the best solution to allow occupation; early results were inconclusive and more detailed work had to be carried out.

"We are working closely with the landlord, and having regular meetings with them, to review the information that has been collected and to identify the best way forward.

"On a without prejudice basis, to each party’s position, the landlord has agreed not to demand rent while these discussions are taking place."

"All parties are working together to find a positive solution so that we can go ahead with our plan to use Mochdre as a central base for providing gritting, recycling and other environmental services for the residents of Conwy."

Carol Marubbi, a former Llandudno mayor and current town councillor, said the whole thing was a "disgrace" and accused the council of "abusing finances".

Ms Marubbi added: "It's disgraceful - why aren't people being sacked for this. They have taken on this lease, and paid more than £300,000 and have not even been able to get a single bin or vehicle onto the site.

"I don't understand. It's hundreds of thousands of pounds they are wasting, it's unacceptable. Someone should be held accountable.

"It's a criminal act and an abuse of finances and it's not their money their playing with, it's the publics."