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Taxpayers have incurred a loss of £500,000 on a festival site in Powys that was originally purchased by the Welsh government. Gilestone Farm was bought for £4.75m with the intention of supporting the owners of the Green Man festival, but plans were abandoned due to the discovery of nesting ospreys on the site. A report from the Senedd committee raised concerns about the acquisition of the site and called for a review.
Former economy minister Vaughan Gething expressed delight in early 2024 when two ospreys nested at Gilestone Farm, but this led to the end of a scheme that would have allowed the expansion of the Green Man festival. Despite criticisms from opposition politicians regarding the purchase of the farm without a solid business plan, the property is currently leased to a farm on commercial terms. The discovery of the ospreys resulted in the establishment of a restricted zone around the nest, which can be viewed online.
The Senedd committee’s report highlighted deficiencies in the decision-making process, such as a lack of thorough due diligence and ineffective communication with the community. It also noted the failure to maintain adequate records of meetings with Green Man officials, hindering the Senedd’s ability to scrutinize the Welsh government’s decisions. The hasty purchase of the site may have prevented the identification of risks associated with wildlife presence, ultimately leading to a decrease in the site’s value to £3.75m.
Committee chairman Mark Isherwood emphasized the unexpected nature of the ospreys’ arrival and the subsequent loss in value of the asset, urging a review of the purchase process. The Welsh government’s management of Gilestone Farm as a working farm continues, with efforts to explore future opportunities for the site. Opposition politicians like James Evans and Adam Price criticized the Labour government’s handling of the project, highlighting the mismanagement of taxpayer funds and the lack of transparency in decision-making
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