A CONCERNED councillor has criticised Conwy County Council for attempting to sell part of Conwy Quay with the town’s Civic Hall.
After earlier apart-hotel plans fell through, the council wants to put the Civic Hall back on the market – together with an events space between the quay’s public toilets and Conwy Mussels.
The authority also wants to sell Plas Isa Car Park, the council-owned car park behind the Liverpool Arms pub.
But Conwy Town Council councillor Joan Vaughan has criticised the proposals.
“This Civic Hall sale is up again (being considered). This is a prominent building in the middle of the town,” she said.
“What concerns me is that they want to sell part of the quay together with this building, as they think it makes the offer more attractive to sell part of the quay along with the building.”
She added: “Local people object to them selling any part of the quay. We need to see this building brought back to the people of Conwy. We need to see this building restored and refurbished but not at the cost of giving the quay away to some developer.”
The cabinet will consider “the disposal of Conwy Civic Hall and nearby council land” in a behind-closed-doors meeting tomorrow (Tuesday 25 November).
The matter was discussed as an exempt item at last week’s finances and resources scrutiny committee.
That follows an earlier cabinet decision – which was made behind closed doors in October – being called in.
The scrutiny committee has now recommended to the cabinet that the “Civic Hall be put out to market excluding the outdoor space and car park”.
If that isn’t supported, the committee has asked cabinet to initiate an additional “public consultation process”.
But the matter is again scheduled as an exempt item, meaning the press and public will likely be excluded.
Earlier cabinet minutes reveal the authority is also attempting to spend £21,000 on repairing the Civic Hall roof.
When asked for more information, a Conwy County Council spokeswoman said: “The decision of cabinet on 14 October was called-in and was discussed at finance and resources overview and scrutiny committee on 17 November,” she said.
“Cabinet will meet tomorrow Tuesday 25 November to consider the above.”
