POTHOLE QUICK FIX SLAMMED
ANGER AT COUNCIL’S £400 QUICK FIX REPAIRS
A CAR park “riddled with potholes” cannot be fully resurfaced due to the risk of flooding.
That’s the claim of Gwynedd council after a Freedom of Information request revealed that in April it spent £400 on 20 tonnes of fill material for Glan Y Don car park, Pwllheli.
Less than five months later the holes have returned, with local residents complaining they could cause damage to vehicles and even whiplash.
The car park, primarily used by beach goers and those visiting the £9m Plas Heli sailing academy, has not been completely resurfaced since 2012.
One resident who frequently walks her dog along the beach, compared driving over the holes to “riding on the back of a camel or an elephant”.
Car park users are now urging the local authority to resurface the entire area to prevent further repair costs, but a spokesperson for the council said this is not an option.
Jonathan Roberts, a former town councillor for Pwllheli, said: “It’s ridiculous that Gwynedd council waste £400 a time filling the holes.
“Whatever Tarmacking the place is going to cost has to be cheaper in the long run.
“The council has a long history of patching things up on a short-term basis.
“The state of the car park is a disgrace to the town of Pwllheli and no other tourist town would put up with it.”
Gwynedd council has now said it will be reviewing maintenance arrangements over the next few months.
A spokesperson said: “We have seen an increase in the use made of the car park in recent years, which has caused further deterioration of the surface.
“Immediate repair works were arranged earlier in the year, and we are aware that further work will need to be carried out following the summer season.
“Given the significant increase in the number of vehicles using the car park, we will be reviewing our longer term maintenance arrangements over the next few months. We will also be investigating possible funding opportunities to carry out further improvements to the car park.
“We are aware some are calling on the council to simply Tarmac the entire car park.
“However, this could lead to increased levels of surface water which could lead to possible flooding issues for adjoining properties.”