Update on Gilestone Farm
BY
Vaughan Gething MS, Minister for Economy

​In March 2022, we acquired Gilestone Farm for £4.25m against an agreed open market valuation of £4.325m to support the growth of the creative sector in a stronger Mid Wales economy. 

We have been in discussions with Green Man for a number of years about the potential to support the future growth of the brand in Wales. Green Man is a key employer in Mid Wales, making a significant contribution to the local economy and providing employment in its main festival business and in an increasing number of related ventures, which place a strong emphasis on sustainable development.
 
The proposal from Green Man for a base in the Usk Valley presented us with a sustainable, economic development opportunity in a rural area and the chance to anchor a successful brand within Wales. Our support for a sustainable rural business opportunity at Gilestone Farm specifically aligns with the goals set out in the Mid Wales Growth Deal, which was signed by both the Welsh and UK governments in 2022. Sustainable tourism, food and drink and agriculture are key sectors of focus in the deal and we are an active partner in supporting development in these areas. 
 
Green Man met with local representatives recently and shared its vision for the site. It is looking to create a new "sustainable rural enterprise", which it says will generate £23m for the local economy, provide at least 38 new full-time jobs and support 300 local jobs through its supply chain.
 
No additional commercial activities will be permitted at Gilestone Farm without the required licences and permissions being secured and the appropriate environmental assessments being undertaken.
 
Alongside partners including Green Man, Powys Council and Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority we will ensure we continue engaging with the local community about the future of the site.
 
The Mid Wales Growth Deal sets out ambitions for a distinctive region that is capable of retaining and attracting young people in the face of major demographic challenges. 
 
It is important we support interventions that take forward the shared ambitions set out in the deal to help the fast-moving creative sector develop and thrive in Wales. 
 
There has been a clear shift in the demographics of the area, reinforcing the need to work collectively to ensure appropriate rural economic development can flourish to create the jobs and supply chain opportunities, which thriving communities depend on. We are committed to helping more young people plan ambitious futures in Mid Wales because they will define the long-term success of the regional economy.  
 
The business plan presented by Green Man has strong strategic alignment with the aims and objectives of our Programme for Government and the Well-being of Future Generations Act. In addition to farming, the proposed activities are centred around the following:
 

• A creative hub
• New live experiences and smaller scale gatherings
• Food and beverage production, including support for brewing and bakery businesses
• Sustainable tourism
• Weddings and other events

 
There is an established history of tourism and small-scale events at Gilestone Farm, alongside a number of existing businesses and economic activity that could be further enhanced to develop the first rural creative hub in Wales. It is important to emphasise the site would not be used as a location for the Green Man Festival itself. Gilestone Farm is not big enough and it would not be logical to move it six miles to an undeveloped site.
 
The proposals under consideration stipulate the sustainable principles of Green Man would be incorporated into the agricultural activity on-site and assessments undertaken to ensure all activities worked in harmony with the environment, underpinning the farm’s biodiversity. As an example, the business plan sets out that all future farming activities would use best practice in managing excess phosphates leaching into the River Usk.
 
Based on the due diligence work undertaken by officials to date, I have agreed the process can move forward to its next stage. I have approved:

• Access, by licence, to Green Man representatives to undertake environmental and other surveys required to apply for appropriate operating licences and permissions for their proposal.
• The commencement of formal commercial lease negotiations with Green Man.

 
Further consultation will take place with the local community, working closely with Powys Council and Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority. Once this work and final due diligence has been completed, a full and final options appraisal will be submitted to me for my consideration. I will then reach a decision and make an oral statement to Members. 
 
In the meantime, Gilestone Farm remains under a management agreement with the previous owner via a Farm Business Tenancy on commercial terms. There has been no change of use at the site since it was acquired by the Welsh Government to require further environmental or planning assessments or considerations.
 
I am aware of the significant community interest in the Green Man proposals, alongside media interest and indeed the continued interest of Senedd Members. I will therefore be publishing a set of Frequently Asked Questions on our website, which will be available from tomorrow at https://www.gov.wales/gilestone-farm-frequently-asked-questions. 
 
 

James Evans MS14:04:58
 Will the First Minister outline how the Welsh Government plans to engage with the local community over the future use of Gilestone Farm? OQ59507
Mark Drakeford MS14:05:06 - First Minister of Wales
The Welsh Government will work with the local community council, Powys County Council and the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority to promote constructive community consultation on the future use of Gilestone farm.
James Evans MS14:05:20
Diolch, Prif Weinidog. In March, the economy Minister wrote to me in reply to a letter I sent to him, in which he asked for my support in ensuring that the local community were provided with accurate information on this matter. Subsequently, on 6 April, the Minister informed me that he'd be using the community council to inform members of the community about the proposal. That all seems reasonable to me. However, subsequently, after several resignations from the community council and them only having three {sic} current members, residents in Talybont are rightly concerned about the community council's ability to provide them with the accurate information that they require.
First Minister, the community is divided over this matter and some good faith and engagement from the Government would help in bringing the community together. I have, therefore, following representations from the community, organised a meeting in Talybont on 8 June and I've invited the Minister and officials from Welsh Government to attend. So, First Minister, can you confirm today, to me and the community, that you will ensure that someone from your Government will attend that meeting, so that the community can get the accurate information that the economy Minister has previously asked is provided to the community?
Mark Drakeford MS14:06:26 - First Minister of Wales
Llywydd, I entirely agree about the importance of accurate information being provided. The way in which we will do that is the way I outlined in my original answer. It is working with organisations on the ground that have a democratic mandate and are purposed for that end. I'm not convinced that a public meeting is guaranteed to provide more light than heat on these matters. I take very seriously what has happened in the community council and very seriously what has been said by the local Liberal Democrat member of Powys council. Llywydd, Members here may have seen her reports of bullying and harassment from some of the plan's opposers:
    'a constant barrage of threats and aggressive criticism, designed to undermine and discourage.' 
That is not, I'm afraid, an encouraging context into which to expect officials of the Welsh Government to be propelled.
I want to have exactly what James Evans has said this afternoon. I want to have an informed discussion; I want to make sure that facts are genuinely available to anybody who is interested in them, but I want to do it in a way that allows some of the heat that has been seen in that debate to be toned down and a greater emphasis on proper information sharing and reasoned debate. And I'm not convinced, I'm afraid, that a public meeting of the sort that the Member has described is the best way, at this point, to bring that about.

​Gilestone Farm - Cllr. Chapman left the room
Collated questions were submited by the Council last week.

Releasing the notes prior to the minutes caused a negative response from the WG and the notes were removed. After discovering that some members of the community were unfairly in possession of the information and were objecting to it being shared with others, we recanted and reposted the notes. The official minutes followed in days. The council will continue to disclose information as it becomes available. A follow up email on answers to the questions resubmitted last week will be sent today. Information on the next steps and strategic communication plan to follow soon. The council feels we should have full representation at future meetings.  There is a general feeling of being ignored. We will persist.

Thank you for acknowledging you are happy to review these questions again.
We are not aware of what was asked at the last meeting or what was answered.
​I am resubmitting all as a compilation doc. for accuracy in what the councillors requested. We appreciate that some of these may not be answerable, but most are.
   
As mentioned in our conversation last week, these will be posted on our website to allow the community to know they are, indeed, being represented by the council in communication. Full transparency is the best way forward.
   Best wishes

 
Planning and Environmental Questions for Gilestone Farm

1. At the November meeting, we were informed the WG would be meeting with Powys and BBNPA the following week. Were the concerns of the council raised at the meeting? How were they addressed and responded to? Can we have a representative of the council as a stakeholder in future discussions to satisfy the ‘need to be heard’? 
2. You stated you would be pursuing your due diligence for the environment.  have you been refered to the planning ecologist at BBNPA? Will a CEMP and bat survey be required? Will an EPS license be required?
3. What implementation will be undertaken to prevent further phosphate pollution in the river? 
4. Is the welsh government required to undergo all these environmental processes? Will Cwningar be required to as lessees?
5. Have you consulted with NRW about the SSSI/SAC river and protected species on the farm? Flood risk? Water management? Is the welsh government required to? Will Cwningar be required to as lessees?
6. Have you consulted with cadw about the listed monument and building on the farm? Is the welsh government required to? Will Cwningar be required to as lessees?

 
 
 
Community Questions for Gilestone Farm
1. There have been statements in the press by our local MP, Fay Jones, announcing ‘that the concerns of local residents have been dismissed in this whole initiative’. Have you been contacted by her or her office requesting a meeting to hear residents concerns?
2. As we have had extremely limited information of what is planned, making any affect on the Talybont community speculative, do you feel that residents concerns have been heard?
3.  How many letters have you received and responded to from our community?
3. When will a meeting be arranged with the community? If not, why?
4. When will a communications strategy be implemented? 
 
Infrastructure Questions for Gilestone Farm
 

1. One of the major concerns of the community has been traffic, parking and the pressure events of 1-3000 will put on the infrastructure of the area. at our only meeting with Fiona, when this issue was one of the first raised, she spoke of shuttle busses and traffic management to alleviate stress on an already busy minor road system. Has this been explored in greater detail? if so what plans are being considered? How will it affect our community?
2. At our meeting with the WG in november, a question was raised about their large financial investment in the farm and cwningar and if they would equally invest in improving infrastructure in the surrounding village to alleviate potential problems that may encounter from a burgeoning influx of tourists. The question was passed to Haydn (the senior manager of business solution, economy, science and transport) to pursue. Has this been further explored? What possible mitigation has been identified? is it an option? if this has not been pursued, then why? Will it be explored in the future? Any benefits of potential growth to the economy should be met with careful consideration for those who may be affected.

 
 
 
 
Business Questions for Gilestone Farm
 

1. We would suggest the Strategic Business Case, Programme Brief or Outline Business Case, Justification and Vision are not corporately sensitive and ask when these may be shared with the Community Council.
2. What are the desired outcomes from the investment at Gilestone Farm, and how will these be realised over 3, 5 and 10 years? 
3. When will benefits be realised and by whom? 
4. How will the benefits of the investment by WG be tracked and measured? 
5. How will adverse impacts be mitigated and managed through the investment programme? 
6. What are the governance arrangements for the management of public money at Gilestone Farm, and to protect the asset, environment and our community? 
7. Is the WG willing to share the Risk Register in respect of this?
8. When will WG be sharing the Communications Plan?
9. What is defined within the Target Operating Model? 
10. What does the future look like, how is it defined and how is success measured? 
11. According to a pronouncement by the government concerning GMF, “… is a  major employer in mid-Wales making a significant contribution to the local economy”. The evidence for the companies servicing the 2022 Festival was obtained by observation on the Glanusk site and is listed attached. With the exception of the taxi service  all the companies are based outside Wales. Of the 53 caterers, only 15 were from Wales.   what can be done to ensure the money from this ‘investment’ is actually staying in wales?

 
Lease Questions for Gilestone Farm
 

1. Will Cwningar Ltd be sub-letting/leasing/renting Gilestone Farm to the Fiona Stewart’s Greenman companies? 
2. If Cwningar Ltd are leasing Gilestone Farm to the Greenman companies what will happen to this lease if the Greenman companies are sold?  
3. Will the lease be terminated as the whole reason for purchasing Gilestone Farm was to secure a permanent site for Greenman and not a festival site for Cwningar Ltd?
4. Could you confirm that Gilestone Farm will not ever be used as an extension to the Green Man Festival as stated by Mr Mark Isherwood MS in his audit of The Welsh Government’s Purchase of Gilestone Farm

‘the property acquisition was being progressed to support future expansion of the Green Man Festival.. because the current festival is constrained by the lack of available land to accommodate the number of visitors that could be attracted to the event. In our view, these statements suggested that increasing the festival’s visitor capacity was the primary objective’

1. Will there be a clause in the lease which guarantees that there will be no more than three events a year and it will be capped at no more than 3000 per event as has been previously stated by WG and Fiona Stewart?