CAMPAIGNERS took over the summit of Moel Famau to demand the Crown Estate gives control of almost £1bn of Welsh assets to the Senedd.

Pro-independence group YesCymru organised the protest to support a motion by Gwynedd County Council this month calling for control of the monarchy's property assets to be handed over to the Welsh Parliament.

Gwynedd County Council pays £161,000 per year to the Crown Estate for access to sites including Bangor beach front, Dwyfor beach front and Hafan Pwllheli.

But the Crown Estate's asset holdings across Wales are currently estimated to be worth more than £853m. 

"We believe responsibility for the Crown Estate should be devolved to the Welsh Government," said the council motion. "Any profits generated by the Crown Estate, here on Welsh lands and waters, should remain in Wales, for the benefit of our residents and communities. Responsibility for the Crown Estate is already devolved to the Scottish Government.

"This Council also states our dissatisfaction that we are obliged to pay annual fees (in the form of leases) to ensure that Gwynedd residents and visitors have access to various sites, including our beaches and other facilities.

"In a period of severe financial hardship for public services, we believe that it is immoral that such fees go towards the maintenance of the British Monarchy and to the coffers of the Treasury in London. This money should remain in Gwynedd to support the people of Gwynedd."

The Crown Estate is an independent corporation which manages around £16bn of assets for the monarchy. They include the castles of Denbigh, Harlech, Conwy, Flint, Caernarfon and Beaumaris - although those sites are managed and maintained day-to-day by Cadw.

Profits go to the UK Treasury, with 12% being passed on to the Royal Family through the taxpayer-funded Sovereign Grant.

In addition to its property assets, the Crown Estate also owns 65% of the Welsh coastal sea bed, issuing leases to offshore wind farms. The value of Crown Estate holdings in Wales has risen from £96m in 2020 to over £853m in 2023.

 

The campaign has now been taken up by pro-Wales independence group YesCymru, who took their protest to the peak of Moel Famau .

Members from YesCymru Dinbych, Bro Ffestiniog, Sir Fflint and Rhuthun gathered with banners and flags atop the 1,821 ft hill, which lies on the boundary between Denbighshire and Flintshire.

YesCymru Director Elfed Williams said: "The central message from YesCymru members who climbed Moel Famau is that the Crown Estate's assets in Wales should be put in the hands of the Welsh people.

“That way all profits generated by its substantial portfolio could go to benefit our communities in Wales and contribute towards running our public services.

“We want to send a clear message to the Westminster establishment about where Wales stands on this issue. The current system of ownership of these assets is feudalistic and unfair."

YesCymru Chair Phyl Griffiths added: "We strongly support the stance of Gwynedd Council as part of the campaign to secure Welsh control of these assets. We encourage other councils across Wales to follow their example.

"Westminster governments, both Conservative and Labour, continue to refuse to transfer control of the Crown Estate in the Senedd despite there being an overwhelming case to do so.

“Polling has shown that a majority of people in Wales support the YesCymru position on this and a large majority of Senedd members support it too.

“In addition to this, a report by the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales called for the devolution of the Crown Estate.

"These assets are already incredibly valuable and it’s clear that over the coming decades, their value is likely to grow even more.

"Gaining control of them is essential for us to put a strong and secure foundation in place for building the fair, prosperous and forward-thinking independent Wales we want to see."