Anger as Welsh government buys farm to lease to festival firm

Farmers and politicians have expressed anger and disbelief after the Welsh government paid £4.25m for a productive farm that is likely to be converted into a festival site.  

The 97ha Gilestone Farm in Talybont-on-Usk, lies within the Brecon Beacons National Park, sited on flat land adjacent to the River Usk and produces combinable crops, beef and lamb.

But Welsh economy minister Vaughan Gething has confirmed the farm had been purchased by the government so it can be leased to a music festival company from 2023.

See also: Wales to clamp down on solar farms on most productive land

The Green Man Festival Company (GMFC) attracts 25,000 visitors to its current site at the Glan Usk Estate, Crickhowell, about seven miles away from Gilestone Farm.

Initially, the company denied the festival would be moved to Gilestone and instead said it intended to farm the land in a “sustainable” way, employing 174 people to help produce local food and boost biodiversity.

But, facing questions in the Senedd, the economy minister cast doubt on that suggestion.

Uncertain

Instead, Mr Gething said the money had been granted to help secure the future of GMFC’s festival and he remained “uncertain” about the company’s intentions for the farm.

When quizzed about the uncertainty, Mr Gething shocked fellow Welsh MPs by admitting the company had not yet submitted a business plan.

James Evans, Conservative MS for Brecon and Radnorshire, questioned Mr Vaughan, asking what evaluation had been carried out under the leasing agreement to ensure the 174 jobs stated would materialise.

Mr Evans added that farms in his constituency were barely able to sustain a single livelihood, let alone 174 suggested by the company, and asked whether that meant it was more likely the festival would be moved to Gilestone.

Mr Gething replied that he could not provide any detail until the business plan was submitted.

‘Underhand’

Farmer Chris Alford, who farms next door to the Gilestone site, described the use of public money as a scandal and criticised the Welsh government approach to the sale as “underhand”.

Mr Alford said Gilestone Farm was “the best in the county for growing crops” and it was staggering that a productive farm could be taken out of use amid a global food security crisis.

He added that the price paid for Gilestone Farm, at an equivalent of £17,500/acre, was way over its market value, and was likely to push land prices further out of the reach of local people.

Mr Alford said there had been rumours of a tendering process for the farmland ahead of the sale, “but we were deliberately kept in the dark until after the sale was finalised,” he claimed. “It was all conducted behind closed doors and people are furious.”

He also feared the potential environmental and social impact of 25,000 extra people descending on a tiny village like Talybont-on-Usk.

“The roads are narrow and can’t cope with summer visitors as it is,” Mr Alford said.

Despite the green credentials of the company, festival-goers were well known for leaving sites as a boggy, litter-strewn mess – especially considering the site was prone to flash floods in the summer.

Anger

Elsewhere in Wales, farmers used Facebook to express shock and anger.

Facebook user Roger Thomas quipped: “So Welsh government has bought a farm for a festival, but they haven’t seen a business plan yet. Can’t imagine banks giving you £4.25m without a plan of what you’re going to do.”

Ivor Morris added: “When the country is short of food, what person with an ounce of brain would buy one of the best arable farms in the Usk Valley to be used for entertainment?”