Accusations that the county council are “flogging off” a Wye Valley tourist attraction have been refuted.

Conservative group opposition leader Richard John questioned the Labour-led cabinet on the proposals, when it approved its draft budget for consultation, and asked if cabinet members had visited the attraction.

The Mitchel Troy and Trellech councillor said: “Had you been there you would have seen it is well-loved and I don’t think you would be putting this proposal forward.”

The site has four stars on the Tripadvisor travel website, just behind the nearby 12th Century Tintern Abbey.

Cllr Ben Callard, who is responsible for finance, replied: “No one is flogging it off. The proposal is not to sell it off but put it out for lease for a commercial trader. I hope it continues to thrive and I absolutely agree it is a wonderful place to go and visit.”

The Old Station at Tintern is a free to visit 10-acre site on the banks of the river Wye. It also has a tea rooms and an N-gauge model railway and restored railway carriages housing local history and information displays open from April to October.

Over the last few years, the council has invested more than £150,000 in Tintern Old Station. This investment includes constructing two shower and toilet blocks, the installation of solar panels, and improving the train tracks and engines.

As well as revenue from the tea rooms owners Monmouthshire County Council collect car parking charges which are used to support the site’s maintenance budget.

Under plans to save £5 million in the council’s 2025/26 budget proposals it is planned to save £30,000 by leasing the Old Station to a commercial operator for three to five years.

Any changeover wouldn’t be implemented until after the current season and budget documents state savings would be achieved through a reduction in seasonal staff and also adjusting the hours of staff to “match the operational season”.

A spokesman for Monmouthshire County Council said: “This year's budget proposals outline plans to explore an options appraisal for different delivery models for Tintern Old Station starting in 2026-27. Tintern Old Station will operate as it has in previous years this year.”

We look forward to welcoming locals and visitors to Tintern Old Station this year."

The council is running a consultation on its proposals until Saturday, February 22 and a final budget is due to be agreed in March.

With a proposed net revenue budget of £216 million — an 8 percent increase from the previous year — the draft budget includes significant increases in funding for Social Care and Health (10.6 percent) and Education (10.7 percent). Additionally, more than £2 million will be directed towards capital investment in vital infrastructure, including highway improvements, building on last year’s investments.

Key funding sources include a substantial grant from the Welsh Government, alongside an average indicative council tax increase of 7.8 percent to support services.

The consultation will close on Saturday 22nd February, and residents are encouraged to share their feedback on the draft budget proposals.