The cost of a planned multiplex, owned by Caerphilly County Borough Council, is set to exceed its budget of £6.9 million.
Councillors were presented with the news in a report to the authority’s Regeneration and Environment Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday May 20.
National cinema chain Odeon has been lined up as the council’s preferred bidder to lease the cinema once it is complete.
The cinema development is part of the second phase of regeneration for Bargoed and will be situated next to the town’s Morrisons supermarket, which opened in December last year.
Following the tender process for the cinema development’s construction and fit out, a review concluded the cost is likely to exceed the project budget of £6.9m.
Council officers are now trying to plug the funding hole.
Council leader Keith Reynolds said the authority remains committed to the cinema development.
He said: “I want to assure the people of Bargoed and the surrounding communities that we remain 100% committed to bringing a cinema to Bargoed town centre.
“We don’t currently have a multiplex cinema within the county borough, and, with a population of over 180,000 residents, it is a much-needed leisure facility for our residents.
“We will continue to work in partnership with Odeon to bring this project to fruition.”
The council is now in discussions with Welsh Government about extra funding.
Cllr Reynolds added: “Once a way forward is agreed, both the council and Odeon will be issuing a joint statement and it is hoped that this can happen soon.”
Meanwhile, councillors sitting on the scrutiny committee were also told the council had secured an extra £1.1m from the European Regional Development Fund – originally announced in December last year.
Because of the extra funding, five more regeneration projects are taking place in Bargoed town centre.
The projects include improving roads, knocking down a number of derelict building and improvements at Hanbury Road car park.
Cllr Ken James, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: “Bargoed town centre has been totally transformed over recent years thanks to an ambitious programme of works, which has helped breathe new life into the town.
“Added to this, we welcomed Morrisons as the flagship store to the town at the end of last year – and the regeneration works just keep on going.
“These five additional projects will greatly complement the works undertaken to date in the town, and help us place Bargoed as a key destination of choice for residents, shoppers and businesses alike”.
Caerphilly cbc had no right to use tax payers money to build a cinema in bargoed. If a cinema group was interested they would have built it themselves.
90 million spent on bargoed by caerphilly cbc and nothing for blackwood down to risca. The general public have had enough of caerphilly cbc pay rise fiasco, shutting public toilets, etc and when they then find the money for this cinema.
The general public of blackwood down towards risca are thanking picturedrome and steve reynolds for the purchasing and re-opening of the maxime cinema. We wouldn’t have any facilities in newbridge if it wasn’t for the SOS campaign for the swimming pool and then the people like barbara bevan, late ernie lewis, helen whitney and others for the memo aswell.
I’ll remind everyone again of my golden rules when dealing with the council:
1. Any predicted costs multiply by 1.5.
2. Any predicted benefits divide by 1.5.
3. Any figures quoted for new jobs divide by 1.5.
4. Any figures for jobs lost multiply by 1.5.
5. Take every they say with a pinch of salt.
Follow these are you won’t go wrong. It works for national politics too, just make the 1.5’s into 2.5’s.
Reynolds and his cronies contradict themselves so often they’ve become immune to the objections of residents. One week he introduces parking charges for open areas then states Bargoed needs a cinema. Blackwood cinema is opening soon which fulfills any perceived disadvantages to Caerphilly residents in this area. He pushed through the Aberbargoed library costs which was a misuse of money (by the way Aberbargoed being his ward) so Reynolds clearly has no grasp when it comes to public spending.
European funding being sloshed about like sweets again, disgraceful. Can’t find money for the cycle race, cancelled proms in the park, public transport cuts – yet there’s £7m for a cinema, it beggars belief.
Paul says: European funding being sloshed about like sweets again, disgraceful.
What do you expect when the Minister in the Assembly responsible for these grants is our own, our very own, Jeff Cuthbert.Who has also established his Constituency Office, where,? in Bargoed, Where in Bargoed? in the YMCA Building, which has also been the recipient of extensive grants from the Assembly and the Caerphilly Council, the last leader of the council represented what ward? why you`ve guessed it Gilfach, Bargoed of course.
£6.9 Million for a cinema in Bargoed, when Councillors could not find the backbone to fund £5,000 for a `Community Cinema` in Caerphilly Town, .or could it be a `Political thing???
What amount of money has the Council spent on its Eastern Area in the last six years. The answer must be “not a lot” and it doesn’t seem that there is any plans in the pipeline to make amends for this clear imbalance of distribution of prosperity. This attitude by the Council can’t possibly right. I’m told that this has come about because there are stronger Councillors at Bargoed than, say, Risca. or Blackwood. If this is true there can be repairation at the next Council elections in two years? time. I am a dyed in the wool Labourite and I find it shameful that the present incumbants seem to inaugerate or perpetuate this unfair practice. I suggest that they get their future priorities right in the interests of their electorate. After all, that’s who they serve.
I echo every word of Brian`s posting, except replace Risca and Blackwood for Caerphilly Town and Basin.
I am also a dyed in the wood labourite and I am seriously concerned with the way our Council is currently being managed.
ARTHUR THE GREAT.
It would be nice if you did. The only reason I have stipulated Crosskeys and Risca is that I am on my own at present and couldn’t manage any more, but it’s not meant to be that way and never could be. What I would like to be able to do is recruit more help once I get the scheme off the ground. I feel I must do this first to prove that the scheme is needed and can work.
The other thing is, the Council tenants are not in any form organised here and I think that it would be a good thing if it was, however loosely that may be.
See my Website on brian819.WIX.COM/ council-tenantwatch
I am really looking forward to a new multiplex cinema in Bargoed, our children have to travel to Cardiff to go to the cinema at present as going to Nant Garw is too awkward to get to unless you can drive, you’ve done a fantastic job in Bargoed.
Yes it’s great for those who live in Bargoed but not for any other town in Caerphilly.
I don’t live in bargoed but a bus to bargoed is easier than getting to nant garw or cardiff from where I live in the Caerphilly borough
I would need to take three buses to get to bargoed cinema so it isn’t central for a lot of people or easy to get to, I am just grateful that steve reynolds purchased the bingo hall for picturedrome and we will now get a cinema in blackwood but it is no thanks to caerphilly cbc.
In my view this project should not go ahead in it’s present form. If the Odena thinks it such a good idea let them spend the money and not stick the tax payers of Caerphilly with a possible £4m bill.