Council-owned farms play a valuable contribution in supporting food production and enabling young entrants into farming across Wales.
Despite the fantastic contribution of Council-owned farms, we continue to see Councils up and down Wales selling farms that risks reducing our food security and traditional farming practices.
In the Senedd today, the Welsh Conservatives voted for the Welsh Government to impose a moratorium on the sale of Council-owned farms owned by local authorities in Wales.
Commenting after the debate, Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs, James Evans MS, said:
“Council farms are essential in providing an entry into the industry for young farmers and the important role council farms play in both food production and food security cannot be downplayed.
“Wales’ food security and traditional farming practices are being undermined up and down Wales as we see local Councils selling farms, also contributing to the decline in young farmers entering the profession.
“Today, the Welsh Conservatives stood up for our farmers and voted to impose a moratorium on the sale of Council Farms owned by local authorities in Wales.”
“It was telling that the sole Lib Dem MS Jane Dodds did not support this motion today. Jane is clearly siding with the Lib Dem run Powys County Council who continue to create anxiety and uncertainty amongst County Farm tenants in Powys. Lib Dems pretend to be the friend of farming yet today’s vote has shown the true colours of the Liberal Democrats.”
