Hotel plans stall over council's £1.5m wall costs

A four-star hotel cannot extend its business because the council does not have the money to fix a nearby wall.

The Empire Hotel in Llandudno cannot undertake the work because a retaining wall behind it needs £1.25m worth of repairs that Conwy County Council cannot afford.

Councillor Louise Emery told a finance and scrutiny committee meeting she was worried the repairs would "never, ever" take place.

The council said it had financial commitments elsewhere, with one head of service saying the temporary fix of having the wall propped up was "working".

A report to the committee said the wall "retains a link-stepped footpath providing a safe route from the Orme down to the town" but that it was "temporarily propped for safety" and needs permanent reconstruction.

Emery told the meetings she had a "feeling" the retaining wall would not be fixed, claiming the council was the "sixth worst county in the UK and ranked worst in Wales" for repairing substandard structures.

She added: "There is also the impact on the Empire Hotel because they have plans to expand, which is good for the local economy in Llandudno, but they can't really do that until this is fixed."

However, Mike Priestley, cabinet member for environment, roads, and infrastructure, said there were "some major issues with infrastructure in the portfolio".

These included £600,000 for critical repairs to schools and plans to spend £500,000 on street lighting.

The council's head of environment, roads and infrastructure, Geraint Edwards, said: "Will it ever be replaced? Forever is an awful long time. The temporary solution is working. It is safe."

There is opportunity to look at other avenues for funding and the committee backed the report, which will now go before cabinet.

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