'Council-owned farms are a national asset under threat', warns Plaid Cymru

Councils are under huge pressure to sell farms off to bring in income to pay for other services
Councils are under huge pressure to sell farms off to bring in income to pay for other services

Council-owned farms are a national asset under threat of being sold off to balance the books, Plaid Cymru’s Shadow Rural Affairs Minister has warned.

Llyr Gruffydd pledged that a Plaid Cymru government would prioritise efforts to protect council-owned farms for future generations but warned that it is now or never to secure their future.

Mr Gruffydd said that council farms were a national asset but that they were under threat due to severe budget cuts by the UK and Welsh governments.

He said that Plaid Cymru would develop a council farm strategy to enhance opportunities for new entrants into farming and providing a platform to test new and innovative approaches.

Llyr Gruffydd said that Plaid Cymru would work with local authorities and other partners including farming unions, the Young Farmers’ Clubs, the Tenant Farmers Association and agricultural colleges to draw up a strategy to protect council farms.

Plaid Cymru Shadow Rural Affairs Minister Llyr Gruffydd said: “We know that the financial pressure on local authorities makes the future of council farms hugely vulnerable.

“Councils are under huge pressure to sell them off to bring in income to pay for other services. That’s why we must act swiftly to protect them.

“There’s a real danger that this is selling off an important part of the future of farming.

“Council farms are important gateways into the industry, particularly for younger entrants who would otherwise not have an opportunity to farm.

“Plaid Cymru would be particularly keen to put these farms to more creative use when the opportunities arise.

“The possibility of working with agricultural colleges to give opportunities to implement new and innovative approaches to farming could be part of the mix.

“We’ve also seen the excellent work the National Trust has done with Wales Young Farmers’ Clubs offering bursaries to young farmers at Llyndy Isaf in Snowdonia, giving them valuable experience of farm management as they start their farming careers.

“That’s the kind of creative thinking, albeit on a longer term basis, that could be part of our approach to council farms in future.

“A Plaid Cymru government would bring all the stakeholders together to draw up a strategy to put our national asset to good use.

“Once they’re gone, they’ll be gone for good, so we need to act to protect them now.”