Sold a turkey THE COST of providing a cinema in Bargoed has recently risen to £6.9 million.

In my opinion, Caerphilly County Borough Council was completely wrong in deciding to use council taxpayers’ money to pay for this project. To expect us to foot the bill is a complete outrage.

The obvious solution is to encourage the purchase of the old Hanbury Cinema, similar to that which has been successfully done with the Maxime Cinema in Blackwood. Indeed it is my understanding that the developers of the Maxime have gone on record saying that they are interested in doing the same with the Hanbury, but will not proceed whilst the council is intent in providing a cinema in conjunction with Odeon.

The obvious solution is to encourage the purchase of the Hanbury Cinema and proceed in the manner which relates to the Maxime at Blackwood. Sadly, over the years, the obvious has not been one of the council’s strengths. Come on councillors, remove your heads from the sand and make a decision that will reduce not increase the council taxpayers’ liability.

David Rees Johnson Newbridge