Gilestone Farm and Greenman Festival Ltd.

An information gathering session took place with the Community Council and Fiona Stewart and Ian Fielder of the Green Man Festival Ltd. on Sunday, 15th May. Notes from that meeting were confirmed at the Community Council Meeting of the 16th May. Here are the details.
  • Gilestone Farm has been sold to the Welsh Government by Charles Weston; this was a private sale and not placed on the market. The Welsh Government purchased the farm to help generate the economy in rural Wales of which Powys is a part. The Green Man Festival, Ltd. is seen by the Welsh Government as having the ability and credentials to generate money into the rural economy.
  • The Green Man Festival Ltd. has a 99-year lease on Gilestone. There are no plans for any changes until 2023
  • There are NO plans to move the Green Man ‘Festival’ to Gilestone . It wouldn’t work. The space is too small.
  • GMF has a track record of creating Jobs and opportunities and they want to create local partnerships and training opportunities working with and involving the community. Gilestone will remain a working farm but will also create opportunities to generate more to the economy, with green and sustainable projects.
  • GMF will be employing new farm tenants and carry out the process. Tenancy will be open to application.
  •  They do not know as yet how many jobs the venture will create.
  • The land will not be changed into something else; it will build on what is already there, which is farming and glamping. The Orchard Walk will remain. There are no plans for any buildings, however, there will be an onsite brewery. GMF plan to continue with a few weddings each year and running events. 
  •  GMF is not just a music festival event but a broader business. It also has the Einstein Garden engaging others in science and a research organisation concentrating on science, sustainability and climate change.
  •  Cognisance of the some of the wider environmental concerns of the move to Gilestone were raised. Noise pollution has already been considered, and sound testing undertaken. The best location with limited impact was identified to the west of Talybont-on-Usk (Appreciate that this may be nearer Scethrog/Pencelli). They assured that they will be using technology to ensure the impact is minimal. Fiona Stewart referenced 90 decibels as their sound testing.
  •  GMF's focus is on green and sustainability . They collaboratively working with universities and research organisations
  •  GMF will be arranging their own events. They will be putting on events with art collaborations and creative industries, workshops and the like. Some events will be between 1 and 3 thousand attendees and will fall into the farming calendar. It is anticipated up to 2 events a year. Fiona Stewart assured the Councillors that there will never be any surprises and the Community Council will know well in advance of events, the Community Council will be given prior notice of all events, months or even a year in advance.
  • GMF has a track record of creating Jobs and opportunities and they want to create local partnerships and training opportunities of GMF and its ethos. As a company they support small and independent producers, using GMF as an influencer/marketing. They want to work with and involve the community. Space for local producers, artists, training, scientific development. GMF isn’t going to be competing with current businesses within Talybont and area. It will compliment and bring increased business to the area.
  • Fiona Stewart will be living on the farm and available. She is keen to engage from the off and sees the benefit of community collaboration.
  • All events will be subject to licence applications, which are scrutinised, and the Community Council  would be privy to. 
  • Councillors were offered the opportunity to attend Green Man Festival to get a wider understanding of the work of the Green Man and its ethos.
Action taken by the Community Council 
this will be updated as more information is available
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  • The clerk has written to National Resource Wales, for their position on the purchase of Gilestone by the Welsh Government and the tenancy of the Green Man Festival, Ltd. on the land. They have responded:
  • 'We are not aware that Gilestone Farm forms any part of the estate owned by NRW or managed by NRW on behalf of Welsh Government.  NRW has not had any involvement in any purchase or lease arrangements for this property.  Consequently, we have no declared position on the sale of Gilestone Farm and subsequent involvement of The Green Man (or other parties) as a tenant of the land. With regards to any future proposals for this site, NRW has a role as a statutory consultee to relevant planning applications and would respond as appropriate to any proposals included in any application for this location.  In addition, there is an environmental permit at Gilestone Farm which was issued in 2021 and is regulated by NRW, further details of which can be found on our public register here.  Any new or different activities that require an environmental permit or other permission would be considered through our permit determination process and would consider the detail of any application made.'
  • The clerk has written to Vaughn Gething, the Minister for Economy at the Senedd. He has responded:
  • Thank you for your letter of 20 May.
    The Welsh Government purchased the site to support the growth ambitions of the Green Man festival. We want to harness the potential additional positive contribution of the festival and its brand to local businesses, the community and the Welsh economy and ensure the festival continues to have a permanent home in Wales.
    I expect to be receiving a full business plan for the site in the near future, which will set out the activities to be undertaken throughout the year, including how the land will continue to be farmed. This will be subject to the usual robust due diligence processes used by the Welsh Government.
    My officials will arrange to meet with you to discuss the concerns of the Council in more detail, once the plan has been fully assessed.
  • The council has requested a position statement from the CEOs of Brecon Beacons National Parks. We are waiting.
  • Councillor Cartwright has written to Powys CC for information. They have responded:
  • Firstly, please note that Powys CC have confirmed that they not been directly involved in the acquisition of Gilestone Farm and that is a matter between Welsh Government, the former landowner and the Greenman Festival.
     The following position was previously confirmed to the Greenman Festival.
     In general terms Powys CC is very supportive of the Greenman Festival and its plans to establish a permanent base in Powys, at the same time expanding and diversifying its range of activities.  
     As with any such proposal we would of course need additional detailed information to consider the appropriateness of the proposed activities. Noting that any land use planning matters are for the Brecon Beacons National Park to determine and not for PCC.
    Once further details are shared with the authority then they will consider them on their merits and within the relevant regulatory powers.
    The concerns of the Community Council and local residents are noted however until further detail is provided there is little further that the authority can do at this stage.
    I am also advised that should the Community Council wish to formally communicate with the authority on the matter then the most appropriate route would be via the portfolio holder for Prosperous Powys Cllr David Selby, whilst keeping me abreast of any developments.
  • The Community Council had their monthly meeting on June 20th. Gilestone Farm was items 10 and 11 on the agenda. Three members of the public made comments. A subsequent meeting has been scheduled for June 28th, 7:30 pm to further address the matter.