Message from Talybont-on-Usk Community Council
With regards to the publication of the results of the UVCG Poll on the UVCG website, where it was reported:- 
“The poll has been verified by the acting head of the Talybont Community Council, Councillor Craig Burdon with review of the process and responses. Councillor Burdon has confirmed the result is an accurate representation of the returns.”
The Community Council wants it made clear that the Community Council has no involvement with the UVCG, and that no Community  Councillor is a member of UVCG.
Councillor Craig Burdon role in verifying the poll was carried out in a personal capacity and as a member of the public. At no time did the Community Council provide him with the authority to undertake this role on its behalf.  
Talybont-on-Usk Community Council was not involved in conducting the poll, however the Community Council will continue to listen to residents' views and represent all residents' perspectives and attitudes, when more details are known, concerning Welsh Governments’  purchase of Gilestone Farm.

The UVCG pole results were published as such:
“Please Note; The poll has been verified by the acting head of the Talybont community council, Councillor Craig Burdon with review of the process and responses. Councillor Burdon has confirmed the results is an acute representation of the returns.”’ 
Subsequently the Council was contacted by the Welsh Government asking is we had changed our position. The media was attempting to interview the Clerk.
​

A survey (without the Clerk, Members of the Survey Working Group and full Council's knowledge) appeared in the mailboxes of residents today. Some residents thought it was a scam/hoax. It was drafted by the UVCG and contained the same question that was asked at the meeting  they hosted on June 2nd: Do you support the staging of large scale (500 or more people) festivals / events at Gilestone Farm?
The following information was included as a preface to the single question.

Community Survey on the Staging of Festivals at Gilestone Farm
organised by The Usk Valley Conservation Group 
The Welsh Government purchased Gilestone Farm for 4.25 million and plans to lease it to Green Man. Currently, Gilestone runs as a farm with holiday accommodation and other businesses on site. Green Man plans to continue with these and to stage large-scale festivals/events. The UVCG is conducting this poll and the community council may be organising another survey looking at other aspects of the proposals when they are published.
The Welsh Government confirmed at its meeting with Talybont Community Council on November 17th that there will be 3 festivals per year, each of up to 3,000 people. They have not been able to provide any assurance that festivals in future years will not be much larger or more frequent than this.
The UVCG is supportive of sustainable agriculture on the farm and other sustainable business activities, particularly if these create local employment opportunities. However, we believe that large-scale festivals/events will be very harmful to the wildlife and environment as well as being disruptive for the community.
We would love to hear your views on large-scale festivals and events at Gilestone farm and invite you to complete the form below and return it to Talybont Post Office by noon on December 9th.