Plaid Cymru councillor Greg Ead is demanding to know what is happening over the future of the Tudor Manor House, Llancaiach Fawr
The historic building has lain empty for almost a year since it was shut in a cost-cutting move by the Labour controlled council. In July, the authority said it had chosen a preferred operator, and the future looked bright for Llancaiach Fawr.
But Penyrheol Councillor Greg Ead, who submitted a Freedom of Information (FoI) request to the council, said: “Why is it taking so long to negotiate a deal with an operator? It would suggest there are problems but the council has put up a wall of silence.
“The council taxpayers of Caerphilly deserve to know what is happening because I fear the way things are going it won’t be open in time for next spring or even next summer. My belief is that negotiations have hit a hurdle with the preferred operator. We can’t have another year of this much loved asset being shut to the public.”
Councillor Greg Ead said that he made a request for a question on Llancaiach Fawr to be answered at tomorrow’s council meeting (Tuesday, November 11) but he was refused because two other questions had already been submitted by councillors, despite the council’s constitution stating three questions can be submitted.
“What is this Labour council trying to hide from the public? They need to be honest and come clean.”
In its FoI response the council said the authority was “continuing to progress with the terms and conditions of an agreement ….with a preferred operator”.
The council revealed maintaining the Manor House and grounds was costing £6,504 a month but some costs had been offset by the hire of the site as a film location, reducing the net spend at the end of October to an average £3,903 per month.