Rhys Jones a vastly experienced international surveyor and local Bala man confirmed that he wishes to purchase of the Vyrnwy estate as a long term investment.
The 23,000-acre (93 sq km) site featuring conservation areas and a nature reserve is being sold by a utility firm Severn Trent .Mr Jones and a local Team confirmed that they are keen to invest. Mr Jones has assembled a local experienced team .Mr Jones said “I am fully aware of the importance of this site to Wales and particularly local concerns about the future investment- that is why I thought long and hard before expressing an interest . We believe a local purchaser with experience will provide a solution which will be acceptable to local communities and all those stakeholders either directly or indirectly who have an interest in this high profile sale. “Mr Jones added “We also understand Severn Trent´s concerns over maintaining the water quality of Lake Vyrnwy and believe we have an experienced and sympathetic team who Severn Trent will be able to engage with to meet any standards required by them. We want a responsible handover and we are keen to work with Severn Trent -if we are successful”.
Mr Jones now aged 41 lives in Poland and is a fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and was vice Chairman of the Institution for Poland for several years. He is now Chief Executive Officer and a main shareholder of Celtic Property Development (www.celtic.pl). Today the company is an international property investor and developer based in Poland with property assets of 200 million Euro.
As a local boy and passionate Welshman Rhys Jones understands the history of the land and that the old village of Llanwddyn disappeared under the water .The village can still be seen when the level drops during a dry summer.
Mr Jones has been resident in Poland for over ten years he was born and brought up in Sarnau, Bala, some ten miles north of the estate, and all his family including his children are Welsh speaking. A number of his ancestors come from both Dinas Mawddwy and Llanfyllin.
Mr Jones said “ My family continue to farm in Bala and my uncle and his family farms a large holding at Wern Farm in Foel about two miles to the south of the Estate.”
The intention of the purchase is to increase his family’s interests in the area and is founded on the long term ambition of developing the land over family generations into an efficient and locally managed estate whilst having regard to the inhabitants and workers on the Estate as well as all of the other interest groups including tourists, the RSPB, the Forestry Commission and the CCW.
This would include re-naming the estate Parc Efyrnwy and engendering an increased sense of local pride in the Estate, whilst at the same time remaining an area where visitors are encouraged to spend time and enjoy.
The proposal to Severn Trent will propose that proper local consultation by the purchaser should occur with individuals, the communities and major stakeholders including statutory and voluntary organisations immediately upon purchase.
The prospective purchaser is aware that the largest parcel of land for sale includes 12,000 acres farmed jointly with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).Around 90 species of bird breed on an RSPB nature reserve.
Mr Jones “Clearly this is a long term commitment that I would not take on lightly but the language , the environment and welsh rural life is important to me and my family and this will continue as we wish to hold the Estate in the family. This is not a speculative bid. I have organised a local welsh Team and advisers to assist me and I am confident, if successful, we can deliver what is best for the local area.”
Mr Jones confirmed he did not need to take on debt to finance the bid, or debt thereafter to implement and enforce the management plan. Mr Jones said “Indeed we foresee that the current income from the estate would not sustain significant debt particularly in view of the investment required to implement a cohesive and socially responsible business plan.”
The Severn Trent land, which includes several sites of special scientific interest, is being split into four lots by property consultant Knight Frank.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-mid-wales-11426029
BBC ON LINE 28 September 2010
