Plaid Cymru Caerphilly Together, We Can Build a Brighter Future

Fears are growing that a historic Tudor Manor House may be shut for years rather than months.

Caerphilly Council’s Labour Cabinet voted to mothball Llancaiach Fawr at the end of the year for six to seven months while a review is carried out.  The move also puts jobs at risk.

Councillor Lindsay Whittle, leader of the council’s Plaid Cymru group said: “The question for the council to answer is ‘what happens after seven months’. I couldn’t imagine Llancaiach Fawr opening up immediately after the review is completed as the summer – as the prime time for visitors – will be almost over.

“So that means its closure, and in my opinion, it is the most important historical building in the county borough after Caerphilly Castle, will stretch well into more than a year and may be much longer. And there is no guarantee that a suitable operator will be found and is willing to take on Llancaiach Fawr. So we have the prospect that this unique building will remain closed for years.”

Plaid Cymru councillors, along with Senedd Members Delyth Jewell and Peredur Griffiths, attended a public meeting on Saturday in the wake of the Cabinet ruling.

Fellow Plaid councillor Greg Ead said that an attempt by Plaid Cymru to call in the Cabinet decision for further discussion had been blocked.

Councillor Greg Ead added that more than 10,000 people had signed a petition to save Llancaiach Fawr with 92% of those responding to public consultation disagreeing with mothballing. Also, a majority of councillors at a scrutiny committee from all parties voted overwhelmingly to keep Llancaiach Fawr open while options to make it more sustainable and efficient in running were explored.

“We are told by the leader of this authority that worse is to come,  I seriously have zero confidence in his ability to deliver anything apart from misery to the people of Caerphilly.”

He also questioned whether the closure would bring the potential savings highlighted by officers given the potential costs of staff redundancies, loss of heritage grants and the costs of maintenance.

Councillor Gary Enright added: “There is no will by this Labour Cabinet to save this iconic building. Generally, where there is a will, or a resolve to sort a problem, a way is found. But there is nothing here. The consultation exercise was pure lip service and fall far short of the accepted principles of consultation.

“The leader of this council is clear in his behaviour, that he wants this establishment closed. Perhaps he has someone lined up to take over this establishment!”