The Council calls an Extraordinary Meeting

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.