More than £2 million has been spent on the maintenance and repair of the Welsh Government building in Llandudno Junction just seven years since its opening.
About £23 million was spent on the construction of the Llandudno Junction site and now residents and councillors have been left scratching their heads as to why so much has been spent on the maintenance of a brand-new multimillion pound building.
Aberconwy AM, Janet Finch-Saunders, tabled a question in the Welsh Assembly asking the cabinet secretary for finance and local government, Mark Drakeford, as to the exact costs of maintenance and repairs.
Mr Drakeford outlined the costs which showed £2,246,000 had been spent on maintenance, servicing, repairs and replacements since 2010-11.
Mrs Finch-Saunders said: “The opening of the Welsh Government building in 2010 was part of a £91.5million Welsh Government project which saw around £23million spent on the offices in Llandudno Junction.
“Unsurprisingly, the Auditor General for Wales found that the Welsh Government may have wasted millions of pounds in their relocation strategy.
"However, it seems that even more is now being lost as a result of the building in Llandudno Junction.
“To be precise, I have unearthed the fact that £2,246,000 has been spent on maintenance of the building since it was opened in 2010-11.
"Clearly, this is absolutely unacceptable, especially as £1,112,000 went on repairs and replacement."
She is now awaiting a response as to why so much money has been spent repairing "a brand-new multimillion pound building", and for a review to be undertaken of the spending by the Welsh Government on its own estate.
Residents and councillors have been left outraged at the more than £2 million being used for these repairs labelling it a waste of tax payers money.
Conwy County Borough Councillor (CCBC) Mike Priestly, from the Marl electoral division, said it seemed like an "excessive amount" of money to spend on repairs for a new building.
Cllr Priestly said: "It seems an extraordinary amount of tax payers money and whoevers in charge of maintenance should be made to answer for this.
"For a brand new building it seems like an excessive amount."
Conwy Town Councillor and Llandudno Junction resident Gary Willetts said he was concerned there had been so much money put aside for something like this.
Cllr Willetts said: "I am quite surprised the Auditor General has found enough money to cover these expenses. I am appalled maintenance needs to be done on a building that is completely new.
"The maintenance costs shouldn't fall on the general and council tax payers. It should be written into the contract."
The Welsh Government defended the amount spent on the building saying it was a necessary amount which they spent on all their buildings.
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: "All buildings incur maintenance and servicing costs. We continue to achieve significant savings by reducing both the size and cost of our estate."
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