THE charity that operates a Blaenau Gwent cinema said it has "serious concerns" on the way the council handled an asbestos investigation. 

The Market Hall Cinema in Brynmawr was shut for six months in November 2016 after the council gave a warning about a potentially asbestos-contaminated roof space.

Due to the warning and sudden closure, it is claimed that the charity lost around £100,000 in funds during this period.

The Market Hall Cinema and Arts Trust is asking the Welsh Government to look into how Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council conducted the asbestos investigation - saying the whole thing was "drawn out" and "ridiculous".

It is also said that the trust is still waiting for an asset transfer after four and a half years of running the cinema. 

The spokesman of the trust, Peter Watkins-Hughes, said: "We have reached a point where we have to go public with this whole thing now.

"We are absolutely sick of trying to communicate and hearing nothing back. We have been waiting four and a half years for an asset transfer as well. Blaenau Gwent council are refusing to have any form of dialogue with us.

"We have severe concerns on the asbestos matter and management by the council. We want a solution. This has happened to Wales's most beloved cinema."

In reply to the trust, a spokesman for the Blaenau Gwent council said it "always has been and remains supportive of the Market Hall Cinema and the Cinema Trust." He also said "a community asset transfer is being considered in line with the council's policy."

The spokesman said: "The council’s priority is public safety and with this in mind a Prohibition Notice was served on the cinema by the council’s Public Protection Service in November 2016 as the result of the potential release of asbestos fibres following internal works which had been carried out by the trust within the cinema and former library building.

"The Trust had previously been provided with full details on the location of asbestos within the cinema building. The library building did not form part of the tenancy agreement at the time. 

"A series of tests that were subsequently carried out confirmed that asbestos was present in a number of areas of both the cinema and library buildings.

"The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) also carried out their own separate and independent investigations into the construction activities in 2017.

"The cinema then remained closed until remedial works, including a recommended environmental clean, were carried out. Other safety issues were also addressed included electrical, fire safety systems, emergency lighting, building control and legionella control issues."