THE NATIONAL TRUST’S £900 MILLION
Campaigners outside the gates to Erddig, distributing leaflets to National Trust members.
THE NATIONAL TRUST
The National Trust says they need 15 million for the future maintenance of Erddig Hall and the estate. In a statement to the press they say they need the money to clear a 15 million deficit at the Hall. This dishonestly implies that the money is owed or needed. At a meeting with Cymuned and the RRC, the Trust admitted that they could not specifically name one bit of work that needs doing. The money might be needed in case something goes wrong at some time in the future. They also said in the press that they have ’strugggled for 35 years to break even’. Remember that they are a charity ! At the meeting with Cymuned and the RRC they stated that the day to day running costs of the Hall were met by admission fees.
The tenants at Hafod Farm (see Tara’s story) , were told by a member of staff from the Trust that the money raised from the sale of their land for barn conversions would be put into an endowment fund. Mr Edward Pomfret from the Trust stated that the interest created from this money would be sufficient for the future maintenance of Erddig Hall.
The Trust received £995,000 from the sale of Coed Y Glyn in 1973 and also £120,000 compensation from the National Coal Board. The money raised was to give the Trust a start up as regards repairs at Erddig Hall.
They have stated that the daily running costs for the Hall are met by admission charges, the shop and café at the site. They have broken even for 35 years, as a charity this would seem to be more than sufficient.
The Trust also receives money in the form of rent from the numerous other properties on and around the Erddig estate. They also have many events at the Hall to raise money. They employ significant numbers of volunteer workers at the Hall ( around 160).
If work at Erddig Hall is necessary in the future, why do they not campaign to raise funds as other charities have to?
For the year ended 28 February 2006, the National Trust’s total income was £337.2 million.
At February 2006 the Trust’s investment fund was over £841 million, not counting the substantial value of the farms and properties on its country estates.
(These figures were taken from The National Trust Annual report and financial statement 2005/6. The report can be accessed in full at: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-annual_report-2006.pdf )
Their financial statemnet for this year puts this figure even higher at nearly 900 million.
In Wales, the Trust receives money from Objective 1 funding, money that is supposed to go to the people of Wales. It also receives funding from CADW and the Countryside Commission for Wales.
Where has all this money gone?
This organisation states it is a charity and a business. They don’t seem to be doing a very good job of avoiding conflicts of interest.
One of the founders of the National Trust, Octavia Hill, fought to protect open spaces and keep developers at bay. The National Trust has obviously drifted a long way from its original aims.
THEY are now the developers that communities are fighting against.