Council's £3.2 Million HGV Depot Stands Empty Due to Structural Flaw
Conwy County Borough Council has poured more than £3.2 million into a heavy goods vehicle depot that has never been used because its floor is not strong enough to support the vehicles it was built to house. The council entered into a contract in 2016 to construct the warehouse in Mochdre, north Wales, intended to store its fleet of 157 bin lorries and gritters.
Costly Lease and Mounting Expenses
By the time the structural deficiency was discovered, the council was already locked into a 35-year lease on the building, which runs until 2031. Taxpayers are now footing an annual rent bill of £240,000 for the unusable facility. According to figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request, the total cost of this white elephant project has already reached at least £3,243,687, with five years remaining on the lease.
The breakdown of expenses includes:
- £703,735 on specialist consulting fees
- £2,233,330 on rent payments
- £290,574 on legal costs
- £273,379 on maintenance
- £155,263 on utilities
- £216,437 on mysteriously categorized "other" costs
The council has insisted the building has generated £629,031 in income, but this does little to offset the staggering overall expenditure. Council officers have refused to answer additional cost-related queries, arguing that calculating further sums would be too expensive and time-consuming.
Budget Black Hole and Council Tax Hikes
This extravagant spending comes despite the council's admission earlier this month that it faces a £5.632 million shortfall in its 2026-27 budget. Councillor Chris Cater, Cabinet Member for Finance and Strategic Planning, warned that "a significant contribution will be needed from an increase in Council Tax."
Residents have already endured three consecutive years of ten percent council tax increases, with local officials warning that a fourth hike is likely alongside cuts to public services. The council has blamed nationwide local government funding pressures rather than its own budgetary decisions, citing the risk of issuing a section 114 notice—essentially declaring bankruptcy.
Political Outrage and Legal Complications
Aberconwy MS Janet Finch-Saunders described the HGV depot as an "absolute waste of money" and a "shambles," particularly ahead of further council tax increases. Conservative councillor Phil Ashe called the spending "scandalous" and questioned why the council signed the lease when it managed to store vehicles elsewhere.
Council leader Julie Fallon acknowledged local concerns but cited ongoing legal proceedings that limit public discussion. The depot is built on land previously occupied by three business park units at Mochdre Commerce Park, and the council is currently in a legal dispute with the landlord, R.R Sea Strand Limited.
A council spokesperson stated, "The Council is not able to comment on a matter that is the subject of ongoing litigation." In a 2021 statement, the authority noted that the lease "had not been subject to the same governance process" as other major contracts and that negotiations with the site owner were continuing.
The full council is scheduled to meet on March 5 to finalize and agree on the budget and council tax rates for the current year, amid growing scrutiny over this costly infrastructure failure.
