HC Deb 09 February 1961 vol 634 cc98-100W
Mr. T. W. Jones

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the future of the Glanllyn Estate, managed on his behalf by the Welsh Agricultural and Sub-Commission.

Mr. Soames:

Yes. Since the Glanllyn Estate was taken over in lieu of death duties in 1946, the Welsh Agricultural Land Sub-Commission, who are managing the Estate on my behalf, have done much to improve the property and I am now satisfied that its retention in State ownership can no longer be justified.

I have, therefore, decided after consultation with the Minister of Welsh Affairs that the Estate should be sold as soon as possible with first offer of the area in agriculture to the tenants collectively. On my behalf, a statement in the following terms is being made to the Tenants' Committee this afternoon:—

1. "As will be known, it is the Government's policy, with agricultural land owned and managed by it, to offer it for sale, after any necessary improvement, wherever this can suitably be done. Now that very substantial progress has been made in the rehabilitation of the Glanllyn Estate, I have decided that its retention in Government ownership is no longer justified. The Estate will therefore be offered for sale as soon as possible. I have reached this decision in consultation with the Minister for Welsh Affairs and have had the benefit of his views in putting forward the following proposals.

2. "In considering the various ways in which the property might be sold, I have been very conscious of my obligations, on the one hand, as a trustee of public funds and, on the other, as a responsible landowner. I have been influenced particularly by the earlier expressed desires of the tenants of Glanllyn to act collectively in the purchase of their holdings and by the thought that they might also appreciate the opportunity of deciding themselves whether they would like to preserve the estate as a unit. Accordingly, I have concluded that my first offer must be in one lot to the tenants, as represented by a properly constituted group of tenants (which I will call a consortium) covering not less than 75 per cent. of the Estate in terms of both the number of tenants and of the rent roll. I hope therefore that, within 6 months of this announcement, you will be able to inform me that such a consortium has been formally established and is ready to negotiate.

3. "If, regrettably, it is not found possible to obtain a sufficient measure of agreement to form a legal body with which I can open negotiations—or if, within 6 months from the receipt of my formal offer to such a body, the terms remain unacceptable—I shall then feel free to dispose of the Estate as I think fit.

4. "Bearing in mind the character and situation of the Estate and the developments which have taken place in recent years, I propose to exclude the parts of the Estate listed below from the offer to the consortium and to discuss their disposal with the interests concerned:—

  1. (i) Bala Lake (including fishing rights over the lake and rivers):
  2. (ii) Glanllyn Mansion and Glanllyn Isaf (leased to Urdd Gobaith Cymru (the Welsh League of Youth));
  3. (iii) The Small Parking Plot at the top of Bwlchygroes (leased to Merioneth C.C.).

5. "I would like to cater for the possibility, already mentioned, that a consortium of tenants might wish to hold and manage the Estate and accordingly I propose to include the following lots in the offer to the consortium on an optional basis:—

  1. (a) the cottages let on full repairing leases as holiday cottages;
  2. (b) storage shed at Pandy let on full repairing lease;
  3. (c) Estate Yard and Office.

Meanwhile I shall consider—and consult with the consortium if it is speedily set up—whether negotiations would be facilitated by extending this list of options.

6. "In the coming months the Estate will be surveyed by the District Valuer and his staff and I am sure I can rely on tenants to give him and other officers all facilities to carry out their tasks.

7. "I have asked the Sub-commission, pending sale, to confine further work to the essential minimum.

8. "I would like to take this opportunity of thanking the Chairman, members and staff of the Sub-commission for the great strides made in the improvement of the Estate and also to say how much I and my predecessors have appreciated the full co-operation between them and the tenants, through the Tenants' Committee".