Council tenant farmers facing eviction - claim

A senior councillor has stated that the council's creation of three farms near Newtown will not comfort Powys tenant farmers, who are being forced to leave their properties.

A row erupted at Powys County Council’s cabinet meeting on Tuesday over the creation of three farms on council land.

The farm project was brought up by cabinet member for planning and property Liberal Democrat, Cllr Jake Berriman (Llandrindod North), when he gave colleagues an update on the ongoing work of the Sustainable Food Partnership for Powys.

Established in 2022 the aim of the partnership is to brings together key stakeholders to promote sustainable, healthy, and locally sourced food.

In November last year, planning permission was given by Powys planners to  build three temporary rural enterprise buildings on land north of Wern Lane, Sarn.

The 38 acres site is council owned land, and the project is funded by the Welsh Government and UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Cllr Berriman said: “This is a project I am deeply keen on.

“It is a pilot project, were working in partnership with Our Food 1200 to create three farms up in the Sarn area supporting new entrants to farming and addressing the climate and nature emergency.”

He urged his colleagues if they are “passing” Sarn to stop and have a look as work on site progresses.

Finance Panel chairman, Conservative group leader Cllr Aled Davies said: “One really concerning aspect is that you are highlighting the creation of three new farms.

“This may be a hard pill to swallow for some of our existing tenants who are receiving eviction notices and notices to quit. ”

He added that council chairman, Conservative Cllr Jonathan Wilkinson had written to the council leader, Cllr James Gibson-Watt to highlight this issue.

“At some point I’m sure you will write back to him,” said Cllr Davies.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Gibson-Watt (Glasbury) said: “I’m not sure about the last point, that’s an operational matter, the estate is being run as it’s always been run.

However, Cllr Berriman took matters a step further and heavily criticised Cllr Davies for his comments.

Cllr  Berriman said: “Those comments are absolutely disgraceful.

“I can’t let you get away with coming in here and just turning this on its head to make those political statements.

“No one has lost their tenancy in relation to those three units in Sarn.

“We have created three new livelihoods possibly four as we are in negotiation for a fourth unit.

“I really wish you (Aled Davies) wouldn’t come in and make allegations about people being evicted willy nilly; it’s not acceptable.”

Earlier in the discussion, cabinet member for a safer Powys, Liberal Democrat Cllr Richard Church (Welshpool Castle), added that the strategy brings together many different aspects of work across the council, “particularly in relation” to community wellbeing.

“Growing, preparing, cooking and enjoying food is good for physical and mental health and builds social and interpersonal skills,” said Cllr Church.

The report was noted by Cabinet. 

By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporting Service