Welsh Gov’s multi-million plan to develop ‘Festival Farm’ falls flat

PLAID Cymru has responded to the news that plans to develop Gilestone Farm, purchased for £4.25m by the Labour Welsh Government in 2022, have had to be scrapped, following the news that Ospreys have nested in the immediate area.

The purchase of the farm at Talybont-on-Usk in Powys been widely criticised by Plaid Cymru, after it was revealed that secret talks were held by the Green Man Group and Labour First Minister candidate Jeremy Miles, and the purchase subsequently agreed by fellow Labour First Minister candidate and Economy Minister Vaughan Gething.

The news of the return of rare birds to the area means that proposals by the Green Man group to develop the site have now been mothballed, and that the Welsh Taz Payer has paid £4.25million for a site that is now economically important to Wales.

Responding to the news, Cefin Campbell, Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd for Mid and West Wales, said:

“This sorry tale has been a fiasco from the beginning – from questions over the purchase, to a lack of meaningful local engagement. It is outrageous that Labour has spent £4.25 million of public money on a site that is now of no economic importance.

“So much could have been done with this money. Just for example, this £4.25 million could have funded Bwcabws, a vital transport service in west Wales, for around nine years. The service has now been scrapped. The money could have been used to expand free school meals to secondary school pupils who face poverty throughout Wales, but Labour decided not to do this.

“But what’s really concerning is that in the aftermath of this fiasco the Labour party in Wales are pointing fingers at each other. They must all take responsibility and learn lessons from this debacle. The people of Wales are waiting for a government with ambition and a vision to change lives for the better.”