A COMMUNITY action group has hit out after £100,000 digital and lighting equipment was moved from Harlech to South Wales, “without consultation”.

In 2016, a top-of-the-range digital cinema and large-scale conferencing facility was installed at Theatr Ardudwy, part of the Coleg Harlech complex.

Supported by an Arts Council of Wales large Digital Cinema Capital Grant, match-funded by grants from Cist Gwynedd and the Gwynedd Volunteering Scheme and private donations, a new house-lights system was also installed alongside the new digital equipment.

However earlier this year the theatre, which had endured several problems with site maintenance, closed due to health and safety reasons, with the roof leaking severely.

Harlech in Action, an organisation dedicated to improving the town, had hoped the equipment would be rehoused locally to soften the blow of losing Coleg Harlech, but the digital installation has been moved to a theatre in Brecon - and there are complaints that there has been “no consultation” with local groups.

“Arts Council Wales has relocated Theatr Harlech’s digital cinema equipment to Theatr Brycheiniog in Brecon,” said a spokesperson for Harlech in Action.

“We wrote expressing disappointment that there had been no consultation with the community.”

Defending their decision to send the equipment elsewhere, a spokesperson for Arts Council Wales said: “This was professional cinema screening equipment of considerable bulk, and we were not made aware of any suitable venues in the immediate area with the space to house the equipment, the resources to maintain and service it, and the capacity to deliver a professional cinema programme.

“It was important to remove the equipment quickly to avoid damage and to protect public money; Theatr Brycheiniog had a need for cinema equipment and met the criteria stated above.

“We are proud to have supported four cinemas in Gwynedd: Neuadd Buddug, Bala; Neuadd Dwyfor, Pwllheli; CellB, Blaenau Ffestiniog; and Galeri, Caernarfon.”

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