Welsh farmer takes stand against Crown Estate over bill to access own field

'Value to the tax payer?' what a pile if BS. The people of Cymru are sick to the back teeth of being screwed over by the Crown and British government. Our resources, which now include water and wind, must stop being plundered and Welsh territory belongs to the Welsh public not some obscure rich little family with virtually no power any more. Centuries of crap must stop and before independence - when it definitely will stop.

Well past time that these creaking ancient anachronisms were abolished. I don't particularly take it out on Charlie personally, since I'm sure he hasn't the faintest idea of the minutiae of the moneys that the minions in his service exact in his name. I reckon that he floats serenely and obliviously above all of it. But there's just too much of this sort of antique feudal stuff in this country. Past time that it was scrutinized and then purged. However, I suppose I should declare a sort of interest, because, fifty years ago, I once lived in Llanbister!

What will it take for Wales to gain control over its Crown Estate like Scotland did in 2017? Why is it that there's one rule applied to Wales by Whitehall and none to the other home nations even though there's a obvious mandate. We have our so-called voice in the UK cabinet, Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens , who not only agreed with Wales not receiving HS2 consequential but is actively fighting against Wales interests robbing the Senedd of billions that could do so much good to end child poverty. Aid our struggling NHS, and fix our neglected infrastructure. She has no shame or loyality to Wales. The Welsh Government, all Welsh councils, and 58% in 2023 YouGov poll called for its devolution. And still both Conservative and Labour governments in London continue to deny Wales and its people the right afforded to Scotland.

How about the royals find proper work like everyone else instead of dressing up, lavish banqueting and mooching off the taxpayer and pensioners? Can we unsubscribe from this rip-off?

This is the "cause célèbre" that we need to start the dismantling of the Crown Estate in Wales but I bet you they will roll over and stop charging Mr Hardwick.

Just abolish the monarchy, it is archaic it is pointless and it is expensive.

A disgusting situation made by a disgusting institution and protected by a corrupt gang of awful individuals. Stop the theft.

Royal Finances Report from the Republic campaign:' The Palace claims the Sovereign Grant is provided in exchange for Crown Estate revenue. This is untrue. The ‘surrender’ was a reorganisation of state assets and revenue that happened in stages between 1760 and 1830. In no meaningful sense is the funding the monarchy receives in 2024 in exchange for funds the government receives from the Crown Estate. Regardless of royal funding arrangements agreed by parliament, Crown Estate revenue will always go to the Treasury, no matter what the monarchy may wish to happen. ...... no relationship between the net income of the Crown Estate and the funding of the monarchy, and there has not been since 1760'. Download from Republic web.

Someone has to pay for Kate's clothes, manicures and regular house renovations.

Just a reminder, the vast majority, (I think 90% this year)of crown estate income goes to the public purse, paying schools education benefits etc. The other is mostly to offset costs which we use to spend. It's not tax evasion, and it is minute in the wider context, but it is still less money into the public purse so to speak. Obviously ridiculous re the farmer, but this isn't some pocket money for king Charles as some people seem to think!

If locals have been using the track since the 1880s it would seem that a right of access had been established before they started to charge Mr Hardwick. Probably the monies with interest should be repaid to him as well as to everyone else being charged for access, which is really a type of blackmail and morally repugnant.

Bandits and thieves

Wales belongs to us Welsh people, not the crown because if the crown owns the land, and if you count everyone else that owns land in Wales that wasn’t born here then that would shrink our land down to nothing but a reservation, and surely that is an injustice to an indigenous people that have already lost so much more through time and history.

Well if he has to pay tarmac the road drains and street lighting the road has to be safe to use under a duty of care.

It would be worth checking the historical records for this track. It may be part of an old road, or there may be other documentation that sets out that the farmer has the legal right to use the track without paying rent to the crown estate.