With the future of Kinmel Hall, near Abergele at risk, Clwyd West MS Darren Millar has called on the Welsh Government to consider stepping in and acquiring it.

Campaigners have warned that the North Wales mansion, dubbed the ‘Welsh Versailles’, will not survive unless action is taken to preserve it.

Last week, Darren sent a letter to the National Trust appealing for help and requesting a meeting to discuss its future.

This week in the Senedd he raised the building’s plight with the First Minister and appealed to the Welsh Government to consider purchasing the landmark building should the current owners “not have the appetite or resources” to protect it.

He said:

“Kinmel Hall is a very precious building, it's a very important part of our national heritage in Wales. The Welsh Government does have the ability to be able to step in to acquire this building and to make sure that it is protected for future generations.

“As you will know, Cadw do not only work with local authorities and list buildings, they actually do act as custodian for many important historical buildings across Wales.

“So, my constituents would like to see the Welsh Government and Cadw working with both the local authority and the current owners, but where those current owners do not have the appetite or the resources to protect this building for future generations, can I ask, will the Welsh Government consider stepping in and acquiring this building as part of our national heritage if the need arises?”

In response, the First Minister said:

“It would be a very big step, wouldn't it, for the Government to compulsorily remove a building from private ownership, and that would not be my preferred course of action.

“If there is an appetite on the part of the owners for a different ownership model in future, then, of course, the Welsh Government would be part of that conversation.”