Ceredigion County Council’s purchase of Llettytwppa Farm has been shrouded in secrecy.

For 3 months, Cambrian News has been trying to lift the veil on the council’s actions in buying and setting up its showcase agricultural educational facility just outside Lampeter.

Ceredigion councillors approved buying the 129-acre property in June 2025 for £1.85m.

But they never knew top staff had already arranged a £2m loan, which was approved three months before — long drawn down before they were told anything about the project. Ceredigion has allocated another £600,000 of its funds for the farm school. And as is often the case with Ceredigion, things haven’t quite worked out as the council planned. Instead, the project is mired in allegations of nepotism, collusion and mismanagement.

We can report here:

  • Just two full-time students signed up for courses — and one of those is leaving;
  • The daughter of Ceredigion CEO Eifion Evans has been hired as a lecturer at the facility;
  • Her husband has been employed at the farm school through a zero-hours contract;
  • Separately, CEO Evans’s son has also been hired into a position at the local authority;
  • A conflict of interest loophole means senior staff can still directly affect policy;
  • New farm manager Prys Lewis is a close friend of Council Leader Bryan Davies;
  • Ceredigion is paying Mr Lewis’ £1,000-a-month rent on another Lampeter-area home;
  • Family members of Elen James, the council’s education lead, have profited from the school;
  • Plaid councillors who publicly back the project say lack of oversight is damaging the party;
  • The council is breaking its own rules as any Sixth Form subject needs at least 4 students;
  • This is the straw that will break Eifion’s back, councillors say...