A report has criticised the "avoidable haste" with which the Welsh Government spent £4.25m on a Brecon Beacons farm in an attempt to secure the future of Green Man festival. The purchase of Gilestone Farm has been mired in controversy since it emerged that the music festival plans to stay at its original site near Crickhowell.
Adrian Crompton, the auditor general for Wales, has completed an investigation and raised several concerns ranging from the level of due diligence to the advice given to economy minister Vaughan Gething, who approved the deal. He found that the "haste" of the purchase was linked to a desire to use an in-year underspend.
But Mr Crompton also said a longer timeframe would not necessarily have led to a different decision. And the government has responded that the report makes it "clear" the acquisition "followed the appropriate processes".
