PEMBROKESHIRE County Council could face a “grant claw back” of more than half a million pounds, after the Trust which owns Scolton Manor announced plans to raise the rent or sell off the estate.

Currently, PCC operates the popular attraction and pays a fixed annual rent of £13,875 to the Welsh Church Act Fund (WCAF).

The potential rent increase on Scolton Manor is “currently unclear”, but assuming a 10% yield on the value of the estate – thought to be around £900,000 - the annual payment could rise to £90,000.

The Trust is also seeking to have the rent rise “back-dated”, but details of what this entails have not been released.

In recent years, the estate has benefitted from several large external grants, including European funding for the Walled Garden of £350,156 and £50,000 from Sports Wales for exercise trails.

PCC also signed a ten year tenure – which started in May 2011 – with the Pembrokeshire Beekeepers Association.

On the back of this agreement two grants totalling £50,000 were secured.

If the site is sold on the open market, PCC would be forced to pay out £555,532.81, plus other costs including staff redundancies and the “considerable” outlay required for an alternative facility to house the county’s museum collections.

A report prepared by PCC’s director of development, set to be discussed by the authority’s Cabinet on November 30, recommends the authority attempt to buy Scolton Manor in order to “protect the County Council’s long-term financial position”.

The WCAF is administered by Carmarthenshire County Council, who are joint trustees of the fund with Ceredigion County Council and PCC.

PCC receives an annual contribution from the Fund’s investments averaging £48,000, but this is designated for providing small grants to churches, chapels, village halls and other organisations in the county.