More than 5,000 sign petition as Paramount row reaches Barnsley council chamber

A petition signed by more than 5,000 people calling for the return of Penistone Paramount’s cancelled expansion was handed in at Barnsley Town Hall today.

Penistone and Stocksbridge MP Marie Tidball joined Labour councillors to deliver the petition after the Reform-led council stopped plans for a second cinema screen, café and bar at the historic venue.

The decision was also raised during full council by Labour group leader Coun James Higginbottom, but the discussion went no further after interim monitoring officer Sian Roxborough said she could not see how his remarks related to the minutes under consideration.

Speaking outside the meeting, Ms Tidball said the petition had gathered 1,800 signatures in its first 24 hours.

“It is the jewel in our crown, and a community asset that we want to be profitable and successful for a generation to come,” she said.

She said the £1.8m scheme had already received planning permission and reached the procurement stage. “It had been promised to the people of Penistone as part of the principal towns fund,” she said.

Ms Tidball criticised what she said was a lack of consultation and argued the proposed work would have improved access for an ageing population. “There is absolutely no evidence in anything that we’ve seen of an alternative business case,” she said.

Coun Higginbottom called the decision “absolutely shameful” and said it was wrong to reduce the scheme to its proposed extra cinema screen when accessibility improvements were also at stake.

At full council, he began to raise the decision while councillors were considering minutes. Ms Roxborough intervened, saying: “I can’t see this has any relevance to the minutes.” The discussion did not continue.

The council says it remains committed to Penistone Paramount and has identified £849,000 for essential work to the building. It says £453,000 has been invested in its roof, pipework and guttering, while a further £396,000 has been allocated for work including asbestos removal, boilers and electrical systems.

Its leader, Coun William Brown, said the stopped expansion would have cost around £1m more and that the council must prioritise essential services while facing pressure on its budget.

“The decision that has been made is not about withdrawing support from the Paramount,” he said in a previously issued statement. “It’s about ensuring public money is used responsibly and delivers the greatest benefit for residents.”

The council says officers are exploring other uses and potential partnerships for the building. The Paramount, which opened in 1914, remains in use as a cinema and entertainment venue.

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